More than any other country in the African continent, Ethiopia is an ancient country whose unique cultural heritage, rich history, and remarkable biodiversity are reflected in a tally of many tangible and intangible UNESCO World Heritages.
Undeniably, the country has a lot to offer to visitors ranging from intangible heritages like Christmas and tangible tourist attraction sites like Lalibela Rock- Hewn Churches and Sof Omar Cave. From rich ancient history, fascinating age-old traditions to diverse cultural and religious experiences, from spectacular geographic formations to incredible geological resources, Ethiopia has been well known for its numerous tourist attraction sites, indeed!
It has been prettily obvious these days that Ethiopia has become the most attractive and popular emergent tourist destination in Africa. The country is gearing up preparations to warmly welcome tourists for the upcoming commemorations, encompassing Ethiopian Christmas (Genna) and Epiphany (Timket) celebrations. The latter, which is recognized as an intangible world heritage by UNESCO, has been bedecked with a range of religious processions. True, Ethiopia needs to deliver high-quality services to tourists visiting for the Christmas and Epiphany celebrations as the two scenes, not limited to of course, are viable tools to attract tourists thereby building the image of the nation.
Celebrations in Ethiopia are great and colorful events, mostly religious ones, and frequently take place over several days. Important Christian holidays like Meskel, Christmas, Epiphany, and Easter as well as ‘Id Al Fatra, Ramadan and ‘Id al Adha, which belong to the Muslim community, have long been intangible magnets to entice tourists towards this beloved motherland, Ethiopia.
Recognizably, Ethiopia still retains the ancient Julian calendar in which Christmas falls on 7 January (Gregorian calendar) People in towns and villages typically dress up in their finest to celebrate. Particularly, the holiday season is a peak period for tourism in Ethiopia and reiterated nation’s commitment to providing exceptional services to both festival attendees and general tourists.
Obviously, the prominence of new tourism projects and destinations like Wenchi, Gorgora and Koysha, the tangible heritages, are also of significantly useful in attracting a greater number of tourists. Besides, these newly developed tourist destinations boast modern facilities and luxurious accommodations, addressing a significant gap in the Ethiopian tourism market for high-end travelers. Indisputably, these developments are poised to revolutionize the Ethiopian tourism sector.
Furthermore, the sites like Entoto Park, Unity Park, Friendship Park, the Science Museum, and the National Palace Museum the city’s allure in general, and the recently renewed national palace, the Adowa Memorial, among others, have been significantly amplified by the addition of several new attractions.
The tourist attraction sites are potential tourist magnetism spots apart from the aforesaid beguiling religious festivities. It is well recognized that Ethiopia has every time welcomed tourists and visitors who are fond of sharing experiences and having refreshment of body and mind. As usual, the country has been eager to welcome tourists during the upcoming holiday seasons like Christmas, Epiphany, and the likes. Country’s commitment to delivering excellent and professional services to ensure a fulfilling experience for all visitors and foreign guests has been regarded as an exemplary one.
In a nutshell, Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage, historical landmarks, natural beauty, and the development of new tourist destinations make it a highly attractive destination for international travelers and knowledgeable visitors. It has expressed readiness to roll out the red carpet for tourists flocking to it to witness the plethora of colorful cultural and religious festivals in January (Tir). A multitude of cutting-edge tourism infrastructures have been built in the country to tap the sector’s potential for the development of the economy.
Besides, creating a conducive environment is therefore so crucial for tourists to extend their stay while attending the cultural and religious festivals and visiting heritage sites.These events are very beneficial to the development of tourism in the country and provide opportunity to build the nation’s image because many visitors come to enjoy them.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 31 DECEMBER 2024
