African Travel & Tourism News 11 08 25

Ghana has signed visa waiver agreements with Colombia, Mozambique, Dominica, and São Tomé and Príncipe, allowing Ghanaians to travel visa-free to these countries. Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa said the move is part of the Mahama administration’s goal to boost the Ghanaian passport’s global value. Ghana previously secured a similar deal with Morocco in June, with more agreements in progress.

The announcement follows new US travel restrictions on several African nations and a July policy change limiting Ghanaian travellers to single-entry, three-month visas. The US has also warned Ghana could face further bans over security concerns. Remittances from the US to Ghana totalled $4.6 billion in 2023, making any restrictions economically significant.

While the US tightens its visa policies, African countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, and Benin are expanding visa-free travel within the continent.

Ghana Property Awards 2025 - 17th Edition registration has commenced - Register here

Ghana has opened a six-storey Air Navigation Services (ANS) Centre in Accra, one of Africa’s largest, to enhance aviation safety and manage growing air traffic. The launch follows the separation of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority’s regulatory and navigation functions to meet global standards.

Commissioned by President John Mahama, the facility features advanced communication, surveillance, weather monitoring, and air traffic management systems, serving as the operational base for Ghana’s Flight Information Region. It also supports Ghana’s 24-hour economy through new digital security tools—the Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems—enabling real-time data sharing among border and security agencies.

Officials say the centre will reduce delays, improve airspace management, and boost safety oversight, positioning Ghana as West Africa’s aviation hub.

The Ashanti Regional office of the Ghana Tourism Authority has begun a month-long enforcement exercise targeting 203 illegal tourism enterprises, including accommodation, travel and tour operators, levy defaulters, and food and entertainment businesses. 

Regional Director Frederick Adjei-Rudolph said the operation, grounded in the Tourism Act 817 of 2011, aims to enforce compliance, ensure fair competition, and cover even licensed facilities that have failed to renew operational licences for over three months.

The United States is facing one of its steepest declines in international tourism in recent years, with 2025 figures showing a significant drop in overseas visitors. Analysts link the downturn to a mix of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty in key source markets, and heightened concerns about safety and political stability within the U.S.

The U.S. Travel Association estimates that the slowdown could result in up to $29 billion in lost revenue this year alone, threatening millions of jobs across airlines, hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Traditional tourist hotspots like New York, Florida, and California are seeing fewer foreign travellers, while smaller states—especially those near international borders—are feeling the pinch more sharply.

In an attempt to counter the trend, some states are rolling out creative campaigns. Vermont, for example, is offering free access to certain attractions and even renaming streets in French to make Canadian visitors feel more welcome. Other states are investing in targeted marketing, easing local travel restrictions, and collaborating with tour operators abroad to encourage a rebound.

Industry experts warn that if the decline continues into 2026, the U.S. could lose its standing as one of the world’s top tourism destinations, with countries like France, Spain, and the UAE gaining a larger share of the global travel market.

Source : African Travel & Tourism News, Joycelyn Marigold