Accra, March 31, GNA - Ghana earned about 796 million dollars in expenditure and receipts from 408,187 tourists who visited the country last year.

Available data from international air and road survey conducted by the Ghana Tourist Board at entry points revealed that an average spending per tourist was 1,950 dollars.

An average tourist spending in Ghana for last year was an increase from 1,711 dollars in 2004.

The data was obtained from the new embarkation and disembarkation cards introduced at the Kotoka International airport and other entry points in the country from January 2004. It facilitated the compilation of tourists who visited the country.

According to the data, 95,261 tourists arrived during the first quarter of the year and spent 185.8 million dollars, while 87,799 tourists spent 171.21 million dollars during the second quarter. It said during the third quarter, 126,109 tourists spent 245.91 million dollars and 99,018 tourists spent 193.09 million dollars during the fourth quarter.

The data said most of the expenditure was on food and beverages, accommodation, shopping, local transportation and entertainment.