Ghana Statistical Service to begin survey on accommodation units from November 1

The Ghana Statistical Service will conduct its first survey on Accommodation Units across the country starting from November 1, 2024.

The survey, running from November 1, 2024, to October 2025, will be published monthly and two weeks after the end of the reference time period.

It will cover short-term commercial accommodation activity in all 261 districts and 16 administrative regions of the country, collecting data from commercial accommodation units that offer short-stay accommodation to both domestic and foreign guests.

Dr. Ebenezer Kojo Ocran, the 2024 Accommodation Unit Survey Coordinator at GSS, announced this in Accra during a consultative meeting with stakeholders in the tourism sector.

The survey will gather data on revenue trends, capacity, occupancy, number of guest nights, room prices, and other key performance indicators of accommodation units.

Dr. Ocran mentioned that a sample size of 1,077 out of the total 9,602 accommodation units would be used for the survey, with 113 field workers, including 90 interviewers and 23 supervisors, deployed to work in these units.

Data collection will be done electronically using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews software.

The main objective of the survey is to obtain baseline data to assess the level of supply and demand for commercial accommodation facilities in the country.

Dr. Ocran emphasized the importance of the survey, stating that it would help the government assess the industry's performance and implement interventions such as tax reliefs and credit facilities.

For businesses, the survey will provide insights into their operations and dynamics, serving as a foundation for continued research by academia to monitor and study trends.

Mr. Edward Asuo Afram, Acting Deputy Government Statistician, highlighted the survey's significance in enhancing revenue management and supporting the sector's growth.

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture predicts that by 2027, the sector will become the third-largest foreign exchange earner, with accommodation accounting for 30% of tourist expenditure.

Mr. Afram expressed optimism that the survey would provide stakeholders with reliable data to make informed decisions and enhance the hospitality industry.

Dr. Edward Ackah-Nyamikye, President of the Ghana Hotels Association, praised the Service for conducting the survey, emphasizing the need for Ghana to develop the sector through the Tourism Satellite Account to streamline the system.

Stakeholders unanimously endorsed the survey and pledged to provide the necessary information for the exercise.