Ethiopia is endowed with numerous tourism resources which have the potential to boost the economy. Cultural heritages such as obelisks, monuments, palaces, religious sites as well as natural resources, among others, rivers, lakes, mountains, cliffs, endemic animals etc can be mentioned.
But not all are properly explored and tapped.
The lowland parts of the country, the lakes regions, the arid areas and the great east African rift valley could be mentioned here. The valley that is stretched from Mozambique to Syria and which comprises the Ethiopian rift valley was created during historical period known as the era of tertiary, said Getnet Yigzaw, the Communication Affairs Director at the Ethiopian Wild Animals Development and Control Authority.
He further said that, in addition to these, the fourth volcano eruption which caused BY tectonic movement created the up fold and down fold attributable to the formation of the current geographical landscape.
At this age, 25 mountains having a 4000 meter long height could be created by natural phenomena.
The tertiary and the forth geological process also resulted in the up fold lands ascribable to the creation of the highest mountain in Ethiopia known as Ras Dashen, which is 4550 meter long and found in the northern mountain park.
Amazingly, by bird’s eye view to the eastern part directly with in short range one can find Dallol point in the Denakle depression, found 100 meter below sea level. The area between these two extreme points is rich in natural resources. The flora and fauna captures tourists’ eye.
These 25 high mountains can serve to establish mountain -based tourism development. One of the mountain -based tourism known as climbing or hiking to the mountain apex can play a crucial role in these regard.
It is also conducive for gliding. Side by side with these, transporting tourists from place to place by balloon allows having birds’ eye view, over view and panoramic view. No doubt the experience is the most enjoyable adventure. These and others games can boost the sector through generating income. But they are not yet well popularized.
Lake Tana located in the western part of the country and other water bodies are also parts of the fourth geological processes that can serve as water-based tourism.
Some of the water-based games are hooting, soughing and scuba diving. These are the most popular games in the world. Cora rift is a scientific study and research practice in the bottom of the sea. It serves to identify types of plants and animals with rich biodiversity found there and partly serves as a tourism game.
Uniquely Ethiopia has four seasons known as summer, winter, spring and autumn. The summer rain starts in June and lasts for four months. It ends in the second week of September.
During the summer season the wind with precipitated air blow from the gulf of Guinea towards Ethiopia. When it reaches here clashing with high mountains it results in rain.
Seventy percent of the highland parts of the country get rain this time. The rain enables 80 percent of the small scale farmers to produce and feed the nation.
One can imagine that, had the mountains not been there, getting the seasonal rain would have been impossible. This shows that in addition to being sources of tourism, mountains sustain the life cycle of humans, animals and other organisms. Take for instance the spring rain and rains in the most low land parts.
The wind that comes from the red sea direction inter converged zone .It clashes with the mountains and goes to the south ,south eastern and south western parts of Ethiopia .
As to Getinet, the 25 mountains are means of our existence and our Ethiopian-ness. Therefore, they should be protected.
However, paradoxically with such abundant natural resources valuable sources for tourism, 21 percent of the nation’s population leads life below the poverty line. The nation failed to develop it because it did not invest the necessary capital for development of well-trained human resources and constructing infrastructures.
The age-old political instability witnessed in the country and the absence of the spirit of collaboration among partners further aggravates the matter.
The areas where tangible tourism heritages are found such as the Axum obelisks, the Lalibella Rockhewn churches and the Gondar palace are still under developed. Moreover, the rampant penury and alms seeking manifested there could discourage visitors.
The absence of a modern transport system and accommodation in the northern mountains and around lake Tana and at the mouth of River Nile could cast a shadow on the sector.
To change the situation for the better and enhance the income-generation capacity of the sector, modern hotels, road infrastructures, unflagging electric power supply, facilities of information communication technology and piped water should be there. The sector also creates market opportunities to transport agents, guides and transportation companies.
It is understood that Ethiopia is a nation of the youth. About 70 percent of the population is bellow the age of 30.This shows that the country should deploy its maximum effort to enhance its annual job creation capacity through training the youth.
According to studies, a visit by a tourist creates job opportunities for 10 people. The famous Ethiopian Airline could boost its income by offering transport services to them. This indicates the potential of the sector in job creation.
This new budget year, the government pledges to create job opportunities for 3million people and such an endeavor should partly targets the exploration of tourism.
The Ethiopian Herald SUNDAY EDITION October 13, 2019
BY ABEBE WOLDE GIORGIS
