Ethiopia is endowed with a vast array of tourism resources in the form of cultural, historical, archaeological and natural resources. The country offers a great variety of interesting attractions and has much to offer to the international tourism industry.
Nevertheless, these resources have not been tapped properly so far due to a lack of promotion, knowledge, and expertise. For long, the country had not been conserving and protecting tangible and intangible tourism resources which could be a source of income and creation of job opportunities for citizens. As a result, the country had lost a sizable amount of income from the tourism industry for long.
Off late, the country has established a national tourism council led by the prime minister. The council has made various tasks to develop and maximize benefits out of the smokeless industry. Three years ago, Ethiopia changed its previous national tourism motto: ‘Thirteen Months of Sunshine’ to the ‘Land of Origins’. The former tourism motto served half a century in motivating the nation’s diversified natural and man-made tourism endowments.
The macroeconomic reform being undertaken in the country has also given special consideration for the tourism sector. It eyes developing the smokeless industry as one of the pillars of job creation and attracting investments for the government of Ethiopia.
Considering that preservation of heritage sites is one of the key priority areas in the sector, besides promoting the new motto, nowadays, the Ethiopian government is carrying out various activities to conserve tangible heritages in the country aiming to create more jobs and fill the foreign currency gap.
For instance, more recently, taking an initiative, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been renovating the forgotten Menelik II Place so that tourists visit it. Abiy has also unveiled Addis Ababa’s riverside project. Thus, states are also expected to follow the footstep of the premier to develop their respective tourism potential.
On the other hand, the restoration work of the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela and the Jubilee Palace, are also being undertaken. While studies to determine restoration needs are nearing completion for the Jubilee Palace, the technical work is expected to begin in a few months towards readying the Palace for tourism. These and similar activities are expected to boost the tourism industry and foreign currency earnings.
Recently, President of World Tourism Forum (WTF), Bulut Bagci, has presented the honorary certificate to Abiy. At the occasion, based on the milestones marked by Ethiopia in the tourism sector, the president also declared that Ethiopia was accordingly selected to host the upcoming 2020 World Tourism Forum.
According to him, Prime Minister Abiy was selected for the award pursuant to his contribution to the development of sustainable tourism in Ethiopia and for his vision in promoting tourism.
He recalled the efforts made by the Prime Minister in the rehabilitation and renovation of Menelik II’s palace and making it available for public recreation as well as the program for the beautification of Addis Ababa through riverbank forestation program. The President also vowed to prop up his support to the Beautifying Sheger Project, which is also the initiative of Prime Minister Abiy.
So, the effort should further be strengthened until the world mesmerized by Ethiopia and it becomes the world’s best tourist destination site and benefit citizens through a lot of job opportunities in the smokeless industry. In this regard, as the sector requires the participation of all actors, more is expected from the private sector to show their unreserved support to realize the aforesaid objective.
What is more, it is worth appreciating the participation of partners and investors who directly or indirectly contribute their share for the realization of projects that are attached to the tourism sector.
The Ethiopian Herald October 3, 2019
BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW
