- Gondar city invited more tourists from neighboring countries
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia is undertaking added preparation to celebrate Ethiopian Epiphany (Timket) which has been inscribed as world’s intangible heritage very recently, disclosed Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MoCT).
The holiday will be celebrated in the coming January 19 and 20.
Endegena Desaleg, Acting Communication Director at the Ministry told The Ethiopian Herald that it is closely working with Ethiopian Orthodox Church to make the coming Timket spectacular and tourists-friendly as never before as the holiday has turned UNESCO’s intangible heritage.
Every City Administration branches and churches have finished preparations to celebrate the event warmly. Alongside the holiday different events and festivals will be held, he said.
Adding he said, youths are showing willingness to actively participate in the process of readying the places where the epiphany will take place throughout the city as it is true elsewhere in the country. Security will be fortified than ever before. The laity and citizens at large are also bracing up to contribute their due towards the colorfulness and tranquility of the celebration.
Gondar is one of the main cities which marks Timket warmly and in an original way. The city is in full gear to celebrate the holiday colorfully than before with neighboring countries and other internationally figurative persons, the attention of which the holiday galvanizes more this time on the grounds of its being world’s heritage.
Aschalew Worku, the Gondar City Administration Culture, Tourism and Sport Office head told The Ethiopian Herald that higher government bodies, ambassadors, diplomats here and abroad are invited to see the event first hand.
Tourists from neighboring countries including Eritreans and international communities and Diasporas are also among the invited guests, he noted.
As to him, to celebrate the holiday warmly, the city has a plan to organize a cultural week festival. Street festivals, which afford a window into the culture of Gondar, will be held. Staging traditional music, displaying costumes, parading traditional dishes, among others, are part of the festivity. Panel discussions will also be held.
An investment forum is the other event envisaged to be held this Epiphany. Lots of participants from local and abroad are expected to join the forum. Investment opportunities and possible bottlenecks will be tabled for discussions. Land will be transferred for investors who are ready to invest in the town, Aschalew said.
He noted, the preparation has taken on board most community members. The government, people of Gondar and its surrounding areas have prepared themselves enough to cordially receive local and international tourists.
The Ethiopian Herald December 29/2019
BY GENET FEKADE
