ADDIS ABABA- East Hararghe Zone Culture and Tourism Office announced preparations to warmly welcome celebrants of the biannual St. Gabriel festival while making provisions to utilize its potential to stimulate tourism.
The Office Tourism Team Leader Tadiwos Sileshi told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that preparations are finalized to celebrate the St. Gabriel, also known as Kulbi Gabriel, religious festival on December 28, 2024. This biannual festival will have a significant contribution to the revival of tourism and economy in area.
Tadiwos stated that the Kulbi Gabriel biannual festival is the largest pilgrimage event in Ethiopia, and an estimated 7 million people will attend the event.
Pilgrims, who travel to the state to attend the religious festival will visit various tourist destinations in the area thereby spending money for variety of services, which will boost tourism and the local economy, he stressed.
Tadiwos also expressed that the local
community has completed preparations to celebrate the festival with warm welcome to the faithful.
According to him, tourists will attend the festival and visit various natural attractions, learning about the culture and language of the area. It will give the city of Kulbi and its surroundings charming vibes.
East Hararghe is working with neighboring zones and states to ensure a peaceful festival. Accordingly, guests are arriving at the city to celebrate the festival.
The St. Gabriel Festival is celebrated twice a year in Kulbi, East Hararghe Zone, on December 28th and July 26th, and it is the biggest religious event.
The historic and attractive monastery is located in the mountainous area of the zone, which makes it appealing for tourists. Moreover, the area is also known for its various natural resources including valleys, mountains and wild animals, he elaborated.
Various activities are underway to expand tourist attraction places and infrastructures so as to exploit the tourism potential of the resources, the Team Leader stated.
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
The Ethiopian Herald December 25/2024
