The theme of this year’s World Tourism Day is, ‘Tourism and jobs, a better future for all.’ The day is being celebrated for 32nd in Ethiopia and for 40th globally. Evidences indicate that these days, tourism is booming worldwide and it now generates more than 10 percent of the world’s jobs or 313 million employees.
Actually, tourism is increasingly a major source of growth, employment and income for many of the world’s countries, and is included in Sustainable Development Goal 8 for its potential to create decent work opportunities for people. With over 1.4 billion people travelling internationally each year and cultural tourism one of the largest and fastest-growing global tourism markets, it has become more important than ever that we work together to safeguard World Heritage.
Here, since Ethiopia is highly endowed with diversified cultures, it can exploit the opportunity and maximize its benefits. Indeed, it has recorded the highest achievement in the world in the last budget year. Hence, celebrating the day is also an opportunity for the nation to reflect on the importance of protecting and cultivating its heritage that makes a positive contribution to the sustainable development it has been pursuing.
Astoundingly, Ethiopia has significant shares in the development of the world of tourism as it is the origin of life. For instance, since its discovery in 1974, Lucy has been capturing the interests of world media, archaeologists and tourists and the like.
Very recently, the 41st anniversary of the discovery of ‘Lucy’ has been celebrated with a Google Doodle. This is because, at least once in a lifetime, all humanity will have a keen interest in coming to Ethiopia and visiting Lucy, who is the oldest hominid ever discovered.
Yes, Ethiopia is the land of origins. Apart from the discovery of Lucy’s fossils, Ethiopia has a number of notable hominid fossil finds relating human evolution and artifacts that could be dated back thousands of years.
Of course, Ethiopia is blessed with enormous tourist attractions and historical sites. Moreover, the nation has a number of UNESCO registered heritages. It is crystal clear that these heritage sites are worth visiting by tourists. Hence, tour guides need to have basic knowledge about these heritages in a bid to guide tourists in a proper manner.
About three years ago, the new tourism brand of Ethiopia, Land of Origins, had been unveiled in public. Since then, the brand has been attracting many more tourists to Ethiopia than ever before.
More importantly, those who own hotels, lodges, guest houses, resorts and others including all workers in such service businesses need to be capable enough to sell this brand under any circumstances.
Indeed, the new tourism brand by itself tells the world that Ethiopia is a home for all humanity. In other words, it would give new impetus to the booming tourism industry of Ethiopia.
Frankly speaking, Ethiopians are one of the most hospitable peoples in the world. But, much is expected from the government and pertinent bodies to own numerous hospitable places and cities in the country.
Compared to the most top tourist destination countries in the world, the annual tourist influx in Ethiopia is progressively growing. And the number of tourists that visit Ethiopia has shown a dramatic increase from time to time. For example, travel and tourism reportedly contributed USD 7.4 billion to the country’s economy last year, an increase of 2.2 billion USD in 2017. The sector now represents 9.4 percent of nation’s total economy.
All in all, Ethiopia has to use the celebration as an opportunity to exploit sector’s potential and maximize its benefits for it is endowed with plentiful cultures that attract potential tourists.
The Ethiopian Herald Oct 01/20119
