ADDIS ABABA – Tourism State Minister Sileshi Girma suggested the need to establish a tourism zone in the capital to promote tourism and social development.
This was disclosed during a panel discussion held yesterday in connection with the Addis Ababa Tourism Week, organized by the Addis Ababa Culture, Art and Tourism Bureau under the theme: “Modern Addis Urbanism and Development.”
Tourist destinations being built and renovated in Addis Ababa are reviving the tourism industry through attracting more domestic and foreign visitors, Sileshi said.
“The construction of modern and adequate centers designed to host conferences, exhibitions and meetings have enabled Addis to host big events, which is bringing a significant change in the city’s economic development and tourism.”
The increase in tourist influx in the capital city, according to the State Minister, is also attributed to the infrastructural developments intended to facilitate hotel accommodation, transportation and green areas.
However, to ensure urban tourism development, Sileshi suggested that Addis requires establishing a tourism zone as it also help to promote social development.
Visiting, hiking areas are crucial in tourism and such activities necessitate identified routes. Therefore, he indicated that economic zone needs to be specified in a city as it is one of the major role players to city development.
Moreover, all tourist accommodations should be fulfilled to promote the development of the tourism sector, he added.
“We can modernize the city by preserving existing culture as well as creating conducive living environment,” Architecture Lecturer at Addis Ababa University, Dawit Benti said.
To this end, improving access to public transport and other infrastructures should get the primary attention. “Creating conducive and equitable living environment, providing smart services, developing green and blue infrastructures is necessary to make Addis a climate resilient city,” he expressed.
BY MISGANAW ASNAKE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER 2024
