ADDIS ABABA – Following the registration of Meskel feast as world heritage by UNESCO, the number of tourists arriving in Ethiopia to visit its unique celebration has grown up by two folds, says Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Tariku Negash, Acting Director of Public and International Communication with the Ministry told Ethiopian Press Agency that the flow of tourists to visit Meskel celebration is increasing from time to time specifically starting from 2013.
Compared with the number of tourists who attended the celebration before and after its recognition by UNESCO, the latter has increased by more than two folds, said Tariku.
For instance, number of tourists in 2012 was 191, 417 while it was 231, 586 in 2013. Also, if we see the last two years tourist flow, it has reached 432 thousand 687 in 2017 though fell down to 384 thousand 615 in the year and in 2018 due to some political instability of the country, he Added.
As to Tariku, Ethiopia is exerting its commitment to increase tourist flow and destinations ahead besides modernizing the sector.
Meanwhile, as World Tourism Day is commemorated each year on 27 September, with celebrations led by UNWTO, it is special and good opportunity for Ethiopia to promote Meskel celebration for the world, said Murad Bedewi Head of Dire Dawa City Administration Culture and Tourism Bereau.
In 2019, in line with UNWTO’s overarching focus on skills, education and jobs throughout the year, World Tourism Day is being celebrated by the theme ‘Tourism and Jobs: a better future for all’, he noted.
In her discussion with UNWTO General Secretary Zurab Pololikashvili, Minister for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia, Hirut Kasaw (PhD) expressed Ethiopia’s willingness to host the next UNWTO Forums. She also stated that Ethiopia is actively engaged in modernizing and increasing the tourist sector. It was learnt that the 40th International and 32nd National tourism day is being celebrated at Dire Dawa City with different events coupled with Meskel Holiday.
The Ethiopian Herald Sept 28/2019
BY HIZKEL HAILU
