Dire Dawa, eastern “queen of the desert” and aged city located 452 km east of Addis Ababa has a number of touristic attractions. The city is amongst the rift locations with densely populated demographic structure.
Ancient caves that depict prehistoric civilization of human kind are also a part of its historical places. Furthermore, Dire Dawa also mentioned as one of the oldest cities to practice modern municipal administration structure.
However, tourism economy is still at the early stage compared to its potential of touristic attractions as information from Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and city administration indicated.
Recently, the city marked the annual tourism day celebrated for the 32nd and 40th rounds nationally and globally respectively.
The celebration themed: ‘tourism jobs; better future for all’ was marked with sport competitions, symposiums, exhibitions and visits to historical and cultural centers which focused on advertising the city’s touristic destinations.
During the visit, governmental agents and tourist sectorial experts suggested that the government should put tourism sector top on the agenda as it creates jobs and ensures inflow of hard currency. Researches also revealed that the city’s tourism potential is untouched yet.
Dr. Hirut Kasaw, Minister of Culture and Tourism also calls for integrated action to scale up tourism sector for better exploitation of the potential since the nation has a potential of generating more tourism economy.
To her, the country is still at the early stage to exploit the tourism sector. “We all should stand together to make the tourism sector major contributor of the national economy,” she said.
Mayor of Dire Dawa, Ahmed Muhammad on his part also insisted that all stakeholders must be committed to take swift measure on touristic hurdles of the city.
Likewise, State Minister of Culture and Tourism Buzina Alkedir said: “The celebration of World Tourism Day which held here in Dire Dawa will make the city one of the nations’ tourism hubs.”
Mekonen Gebregziabhir an advisor of sustainable tourism with Catering and Tourism Training Institute presented a research that indicated as the rate of tourists’ inflow has been increasing. The tourism sector is led by poor management which is among the major hurdle.
Designing strategic approaches is mandatory to boost youth employment opportunity.
By the same token, Kiflu Gebregiorgis, from Hotel Experts Association argues that the problem of exploiting tourism potential is not an obstacle for Dire Dawa alone. But it is affecting the tourism economy of the nation as a whole.
Therefore, committed governance on qualifying the sectorial experts is still problematic since the tourism sector needs hospitable and well trained personnel.
The Ethiopian Herald October 11, 2019
BY YUSUF ENDRIS
