Ethiopia is yet to be beneficiary from tourism sector as cultural and natural tourist attractions endowed nation. To realize its ambition, the country has been implementing policies and strategies which buttress the sector.
Regarding the aforementioned issue, the role of higher educational institutions is pivotal. Aksum University is among the universities which are tirelessly working to expand, develop and promote tourism destinations through practical researches and studies. As it is in the folds of ancient civilization and history, the university has a heavy responsibility in designing ways of exploiting massive tourism potential.
Coordinator of Archaeology and Hotel Research Institute at the University of Aksum Hadgu Zerue said that his university is playing its part in developing, promoting and preserving tourism destinations and ancient heritages.
“As part of the bid to develop tourism destinations, our university is undertaking researches. Besides, it is striving to prolong tourists stay here. As part of this bid, it has published a book which shows tourism destinations,” he adds. Moreover, there are strenuous efforts to promote and preserve archaeological sites that have been unearthed recently, Hadgu stated.
“So far various artifacts have been found through archaeological excavations. Agricultural equipment, potteries, coins and other heritages are being preserved in the museums. Aksum university has made researches on 22 tourism destinations in central and north western zones of Tigray,’’ according to him.
The coordinator highlights that Tuwanka Abergele, Merebleke, Adwa, Tahtay and Laelay Maichew, Medebay Zana and Tahtay Koraro districts (Woreda) were identified as centers of massive tourism destinations. As to him, intensive archaeological excavations have been undertaken in Yeha, Maiy Adrasha and Bete-Semaeti historical sites in collaboration with German, Italian and American archaeologists and skill and technology transfer has been maintained.
“The heritages which are being unearthed designate our glorious identity and civilization. Hence, the government and stakeholders should work in collaboration to preserve and promote them so as to be means of income generation. Especially, research institutions, tours and travel agencies, hotel and accommodation owners have pivotal role in developing and promoting tourism destinations,’’ he points out.
Meanwhile, renovating the remarkable obelisk of Aksum needs urgent action as it is confronted by a serious risk of collapse. Regarding this, the Authority for Conservation of Cultural Heritages (ARCCH) is striving to spare this ancient heritage from the tragedy of collapse.
Fanta Beyene, Public Relations Director at ARCCH said that ARCCH in collaboration with other stakeholders has set out to renovate the ancient obelisk.
“The obelisk of Aksum is an emblem of our identity, civilization and history. But now it faces the risk of collapse. Having understood this we have finished preparation to rescue it through undertaking effective renovation works. An Italian company has taken the responsibility given it wealth of experience in such endeavors,’’ he noted.
Not only renovating Aksumite Obelisk, the director has underlined that ARCCH would exert its maximum efforts in developing and renovating other tourist attractions in Tigray and other parts of the country. Among them, preserving ancient parchment relic manuscripts and other ancient artifacts would be taken seriously.
As compared to neighboring countries, Ethiopia is not fully exploiting its immense tourism potential. Lack of infrastructural facilities, gaps in accommodation and chasms in the promotion of heritages are identified as strangleholds hampering the tourism sector. Thus, the government and concerned bodies should deploy a concerted effort to derive the perks due from the sector.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition, February 2/2020
BY TSEGAY HAGOS
