Ethiopia is blessed with numerous tangible and intangible heritages. Some of them have been inscribed in UNESCO’s heritage list and others are in the pipeline. However, due to many factors, the nation has not been gaining what it deserves from the tourism sector.
What are the major tourism potentials of the country? What were the aspiration and challenges facing the sector? What should be done to utilize the smokeless industry?
Though Ethiopia is the cradle of mankind and a land of remarkable ancient civilization, its tourism sector has been stagnant for several decades. Ethiopia which comprises historical and natural heritages like pre-Aksumite kingdom of D’amat, Aksumite kingdom, Fasil Ghebi, Harar Jogol, Konso cultural landscape, Lower valley of Awash, rock hewn churches of Lalibela, Semien National Park, Bale Mountains National Park, the Danakil Depression and many others is yet to exploit its tourism resources. Thus, expanding and developing tourism destinations would be strategic component to transform the sector to higher level, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Regarding harnessing tourism potentials and expanding destination, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has planned fully to utilize the huge tourism potential and to expand destination so as to play an elephantine role in economic growth, says Tewodros Habtamu, Domestic Tourism Expansion Coordinator at the Ministry.
He adds that structural reform is set to be implemented to modernize the sector through identifying challenges and their possible solutions.
‘‘Tourism sector wasn’t seen as means of income generation mechanism previously. There were problems that could obstruct the sector from growing. But, now the government has given due attention to transforming it,’’ Tewodros notes. Adding: ‘‘During the previous fiscal year, Ethiopia had garnered 3.1 billion USD from 850,000 tourists. We are working to maximize foreign currency earning through increasing the number of tourist to 1.5 million this year, he underlines.
Besides, the government and pertinent stakeholders should give priority for expanding tourism destinations and infrastructure facilities as well as ensuring accommodations which are key mechanisms to enhance the tourism sector.
‘‘There are several tourist attractions which aren’t yet explored. Hence, expanding destinations would be the salient task that the government intends to accomplish. Basic infrastructural facilities and accommodations are also very important to elongate the stay of tourists,’’ as to him. In addition to this, there are initiations to realize modern and effective service provision system.
For his part, Worku Mengesha, Communication Directorate Director at Addis Ababa Culture and Tourism Bureau says that inscribing cultural and historical heritages in UNESCO’s list would significantly increase the influx of tourists.
Thus, every concerned stakeholder must strive to this end.
“Though Ethiopia has abundant tangible and intangible heritages, promotion and preservation works remain to be accomplished. Our fabulous heritages should be registered in UNESCO. Hence, they will lure many tourists from around the world,’’ he said.
Besides, building addition museums would be crucial for preserving heritages safely and properly.
Conference tourism is another way of maintaining hard currency, as to the director. Therefore Addis Ababa City Administration is working to create ample opportunities for tourists in a bid they visit remarkable natural and manmade attractions which are found in the capital and other areas of the nation.
‘‘Every tourist starts his/her journey from Addis. As a political and economic capital of Ethiopia and the seat of the African Union (AU) and other regional and international organization, Addis is equipping itself with all the necessary facilities like brand hotels, accommodations and new tourist destination. This would be also important to the whole country as the tourists who come for conference will get a chance of visiting other tourist destination,’’ he pointed out.
To sum up, Ethiopia which has innumerable tourist attractions is yet to exploit its smokeless industry. Having understood this, the government and other stakeholders should exert their maximum efforts in expanding and developing tourist destinations.
The Ethiopian Herald January 12, 2020
BY TSEGAY HAGOS
