Accra, Ghana//- The global pandemic has transformed the tourism industry and two years later, Ghana is finally seeing recovery. According to Oxford Business Group, international arrivals reached 411,000 in the first nine months of 2021, outpacing the 355,000 arrivals seen in 2020 – hinting at tourism recovery from the pandemic.
Airport requests alone on the app in Accra have increased by 4.93% compared to last year according to Uber data. As a result, Kotoka International Airport has been revealed as one of the top visited places, followed by Labadi Beach, a popular tourist destination – an indication that travel is on the rise.
According to the Head of Uber in Ghana and Ivory Coast, Marjorie Saint-Lot, a significant portion of the riders taking these trips have been national and international visitors, and Uber is enjoying steadily growing popularity as the preferred way for tourists to move around our cities.
Earlier this month, the Ghana Tourism Authority launched Tourism Month aimed at recognising the role of tourism in highlighting Ghana’s unique cultural and historical heritage. The call is also aimed at encouraging Ghanaians and visitors to patronise tourist attractions and events locally.
With Uber’s seamless technology in place in six cities across Ghana, Uber is fast becoming a significant role player in the global tourism industry, which means more drivers have access to earning opportunities and more riders an affordable, convenient, and reliable travel solution throughout the region, at the tap of a button.
Travelling made easy
Travelling from airports and across the city has never been easier, with the launch of Uber Comfort, a product designed to give riders more trip customisation options and an enhanced on-trip experience, while allowing drivers an additional income-generating opportunity.
And because saving is always an option, Uber has introduced UberX Share to help reduce costs for riders and increase demand for drivers. The product allows riders to save up to 30% when matched with a co-rider heading in a similar direction.
Marjorie points out that the popularity of Uber is a natural consequence of the familiarity that many visitors have with the Uber app. “For global tourists to Ghana – particularly those on a first visit – the experience of arriving in the country can be somewhat intimidating,” she explains, “so the familiarity of Uber, combined with the convenience of being able to input your destination without any language barrier challenges, makes for a very appealing proposition.”
Safety first
Safety is another key factor driving the increase in the number of tourists requesting Uber to get them to their destinations. Uber never stops raising the bar on safety and has a range of features that take advantage of the latest smartphone technology to ensure that riders and drivers feel safe.
With the Safety Check-up feature, riders are encouraged to complete their safety profile by turning on and utilizing the available features such as Trusted Contacts, PIN verification and RideCheck.
Uber’s use of GPS-based technology gives comfort to tourists who may otherwise have been nervous about getting lost in a city not familiar to them.. “Riders can not only share their full details and estimated arrival times with others,” Mani points out, “but they also receive detailed information about their driver, vehicle and route before they ever have to step inside the vehicle.”
“We are committed to Ghana, a key contributor to the growth of our business in Sub-Saharan Africa. We’re passionate about helping people travel and discover the city with ease while also helping drivers increase earning opportunities,” concludes Saint-Lot.
