The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) is set to roll out its first-ever Accommodation Unit Survey (AUS) in November 2024. Running for a full year, the survey’s aim is to capture critical data on short-stay accommodation facilities across all 16 regions and 261 districts of Ghana, providing valuable insights into the sector’s performance.
GSS designed this initiative to obtain a clear picture of how commercial accommodation units operate, focusing on their capacity, occupancy rates, revenues, and employment statistics.
According to GSS, “This survey will be vital for tracking the supply and demand within the accommodation industry and providing real-time data that will improve decision-making.”
The survey will include both licensed and unlicensed accommodation units, ranging from hotels and guesthouses to hostels and homestays. Of the 9,602 identified units, a nationally representative sample of 1,077 accommodation providers will be selected.
According to GSS, the survey will also inform key stakeholders like policymakers, business owners, and investors about trends in guest volumes, average stay durations, and the pricing strategies of accommodation facilities across the country.
“This is the first time we are conducting such an extensive, year-long survey for accommodation units, and the data we gather will allow us to better understand how the hospitality industry is contributing to the broader tourism sector,” the GSS stated.
The survey’s findings will help to populate the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), which quantifies tourism’s contribution to the national GDP. AUS will also serve as a foundational tool for tourism operators to make data-driven decisions regarding their services.
According to GSS, “Accommodation providers can use this data to optimize pricing, improve operational efficiency, and identify patterns that enhance their overall revenue management.”
With the involvement of industry stakeholders, including the Ghana Hoteliers Association and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, the survey is expected to receive widespread support.
These partners are tasked with supporting publicity efforts and liaising with their members to ensure successful data collection. GSS emphasized that confidentiality will be strictly maintained, with trained field officers leading the survey.
The launch of AUS follows previous initiatives like the Ghana International Travellers’ Survey (GITS) and the Domestic and Outbound Tourism Survey (DOTS), with the next major project being the Tourism Supply Establishment Survey (TSES), slated for March 2025.
