With Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, going through a dramatic turnaround and the corridor development in full swing now, the city is fast becoming a hub for conference tourism. The corridor development project and other initiatives are giving the city a new look and charm, alluring regional and international event organizers and conference goers.
Africa’s capital is also witnessing rapid change in terms of infrastructural facilities and other prerequisites that are highly needed for successfully hosting conferences and events. The massive construction work undertaken in almost all parts of the city, 24/7, is only uplifting the metropolis’s glamour and status.
Addis has long been among the leading diplomatic centers where it hosts the African Union and United Nations’ Economic Commission for Africa, and plenty of foreign missions and embassies. These assets, coupled with the socioeconomic development of the city, are making Addis the preferred destination for large gatherings and big events. And, the last few years have seen the diplomatic clout gaining momentum as the government accords huge attention to refurbishing the city and promoting conference tourism.
Only in the last few years, Addis has added new public parks to its tourist spots. Newcomers or people with little knowledge of the city will be caught by surprise to see the massive transformation the city is going through recently. The infrastructural moonshot has earned the city a reputation and testimonials from leaders of other nations.
Above all, the reliable peace and security of the city have tremendously played into the growing grace of the metropolis. With a declining crime rate and growing safety records, Addis has peacefully and efficiently hosted high-profile summits and high-stakes conferences. The top-notch hotel services and the longstanding peoples’ hospitality also cultivate the trust of organizers and build the confidence of participants.
From the recently inaugurated convention center to its peculiar hotels, Addis Ababa is now well-positioned to host growing numbers of gatherings. And the ongoing constructions of various facilities are a good harbinger of thriving conference tourism in the city, in particular, and the country in general. Latest figures show that better days are coming for the city and conference goers as well.
For instance, Ethiopia has hosted over 60 major conferences in the past 9 months, a significant increase when compared to 19 in the same period last year, the Ethiopian News Agency reported.
For the state minister, this surge is attributed to the government’s initiatives like “Dine for Nation” to improve conference facilities and tourist infrastructure and attractions, said Planning and Development State Minister Bereket Fesehatsion.
The “Dine for Nation” Initiative by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is designed to boost tourism by improving the image and facilities of tourist destinations alongside actively promoting unique cultural heritages and tourist attractions on the global stage.
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, has been playing a crucial role as a continental hub, which is hugely promoting conference tourism in particular and the nation’s tourism industry in general, Bereket said.
From the African Union Summit to the 46th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the African Defense Ministers Conference, Ethiopia has successfully organized big events in the same period. Conference tourism has significantly surged and expanded, driven by newly developing tourist destinations and conference facilities over the past nine months. So, it would be in the best interest of organizers and participants if they put Ethiopia in the first rung of the list of gathering venues.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 23 MAY 2025
