● Local tourism expert says cable transport system, lodges expansion results in tourists influx
Sitting at his Office some 20 Kms distant from the chained mountains of Gheralta, Hoftom Meles, Head of the Hawzen Woreda Culture and Tourism Bureau said the Woreda has 34 ancient tourism monasteries hewed out of a rock, mostly believed that they were built back in the fourth-six century.
However, only 15 monasteries are accessible for tourism. Gheralta is getting famous, these days, for its tourism attractions in the state and in Ethiopia at large. The state has over 150 registered rock hewn churches for tourism and 34 of them are found clustered around Hawen and more particularly in the vicinity of the majestic hills of Gheralta.
Last year, in order to attract more tourists, we had been working with the reputable media organizations such as CGTN, Aljazeera, AFP and BBC. They did produce news updates and various documentaries about the mysteries in Gheralta, Haftom stated adding that the flow of international tourists to the sites is increasing following such media coverage.
Furthermore, to boost the local tourism, his office is working with the local media, he said. “These activities will continue this year.” Tourism scouts, tour community and tour guides have made sure that the place is a safe haven for any tourist. There are also local enterprises to promote culture, art and cottage products in the site, according to the tourism expert.
Tourism demands up to standard accommodation as well. There are four/six lodges in Gheralta namely; Saba Ethiopic Resort (Five stars) Gheralta Lodge (Four stars), Korkor Lodge (Three stars) and Shembereyti Community Lodge. Six lodge developers and ten hotel and motel developers had also taken investment license to build hotels in Gheralta and surrounding areas during the last fiscal year, according to Haftom.
Korkor Lodge, which lies at 12 hectares of acres, have kick started expansion of its services. This will include the cable transportation services. As per nation’s rules, Helicopter transport is already in service directly from all corners of the world, Haftom added. Mekelle University President Kindeya Gebrehiwot (Prof.) twitted last week that Korkor lodge is serving international tourists coming with own helicopters and caravans directly from their home countries. It is a place to be the potential tourism destination in Tigray state and Ethiopia. “Let us intensify it.”
Gebremedhin Kidane, General Manager of the Gheralta Lodge, spoke to The Ethiopian Herald that the lodge that he is running is developed by an Italian Company called Nature and Culture Plc. “Speaking about what motivated those who run the company to invest here he said they say ‘We are stunned by the natural beauty in the mountains.’ ”
Gheralta lodge has 34 beds and provides international foods. There is a high demand for investments here he said mentioning that his lodge is always packed with tourists. The public enterprise in charges of expanding and promoting tourism in the country, Tourism Ethiopia for its part announced that it has selected 7 tourism sites to be open to foreign investors. Gheralta is in the list.
Globally, as an export category, tourism ranks fourth after fuels, chemicals and automotive products, according to UNWTO, 2011 report. The overall export income generated by international tourism, including passenger transport, exceeded US$ 1 trillion in 2010, or close to US$ 3 billion a day. Tourism exports account for as much as 30 percent of the world’s exports of commercial services and 6 percent of overall exports of goods and services.
Worldwide, international tourism rebounded strongly, with international tourist arrivals up 6.6 percent over 2009, to 940 million in 2010. The increase more than offset the decline caused by the economic downturn, with an additional 23 million arrivals over the former peak year of 2008 (WTO, 2010). According to the April 2011 Interim Update of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, International tourist arrivals grew by close to 5 percent during the first two months of 2011, consolidating the rebound registered in 2010.
In spite of occasional shocks, international tourist arrivals have shown virtually un interrupted growth: from 25 million in 1950, to 277 million in 1980, to 435 million in 1990, to 675 million in2000, and the current 940million. As growth has been particularly fast in the world’s emerging regions, the share in international tourist arrivals received by emerging and developing economies has steadily risen, from 31 percent in 1990 to 47 percent in 2010 (UNWTO, 2011).
The Ethiopian Herald, Sunday Edition, October 27/2019
BY HAFTU GEBREZGABIHER
