Ethiopia is one of the ancient countries in the world and its history stretches back 3,500 years. It has one of the four ancient civilizations including the Aksumite civilization that ever flourished in this planet. It has incredible manmade and natural heritages, which could lure tourists from around the world. Besides, its cultural heritages have paramount significance in the tourism sector. Cultural heritages like the Gada system, which is inscribed in UNESCO’s intangible heritage list, are among the blessings of the nation. Other cultural tourist attractions include landscapes, visual and performing arts, values, customs, traditions, events and other ways of creative and intercultural exchange processes.
Those aforementioned tourist attractions have vital role in enhancing the cultural tourism of the country. However, cultural tourism has been in its embryonic stage of development due to many challenges. Despite the setbacks, the government has been striving to harness the untapped cultural tourism. Worku Mengesha, Communication Directorate Director at the Addis’s Culture and Tourism Bureau told the Ethiopian Herald that the number of tourists being attracted by cultural heritages is snowballing from time to time. ‘‘Ethiopia abounds in cultural tourist attractions.
There are abundant cultural holidays, cultural foods and beverages, drama, performing arts and artifacts. But these fabulous blessings have not been promoted to lure more tourists,’’ he said. Adding: ‘‘Tourists are seen running out of words to express their amusement of cultural tourist attractions like Mesqel, Timket, EdAlfetir, Irreechaa, Fiche-Chambaalla and customs and traditions of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia. Back home, the ambassadorial role of verbal or photos-backed advertisement they carry out has been playing a great role in promoting our attractions. Many tourists eager to visit Ethiopia stunned by the photographs and video footages they see about Ethiopia, according to him.
He added that since Addis Ababa is a diplomatic capital of Africa,on top of being home to over 80 ethnic mix, various cultural activities are witnessed being practiced. Hence, tourists will stand a chance to feast their eyes on Ethiopia. ‘‘The museums, which are found in Addis Ababa, have in store many cultural artifacts. They are being kept properly so as to bequeath them to the next generation. Besides, they are often viewed by people who come for conference.This should be encouraged for attracting more tourists as well,’’ he insisted. Addis Ababa University, Sociology and Social Anthropology, Lecturer Tesfalem Seyoum for his part said the performing arts, folklores, literary works and paintings should be preserved and promoted for tourism and research purposes.
‘‘Ethiopia showcases a mosaic of culture. It is home to diversified Nations and Nationalities and Peoples with a wide-array of languages, culture and ways of life. Their dancing style, wedding ceremony, funeral services, proverbs,literature, paintings, dressing, foods and drinks have huge importance in developing cultural tourism,’’ he said. Adding ‘‘as researches show, foreign tourists want to know everything. They want to explore the cultural aspects of different societies. However, there is misconception in Ethiopia that tourists only want to see museums, monuments, natural attractions and festivals. This perception should be changed.
He further explained,apart from generating foreign currency, cultural tourism would also have paramount role in consolidating people-topeople relations within a country and beyond. The activities being undertaken by schools, governmental and non-governmental organizations to let citizens better know their country should be encouraged since it could pave a way for internal tourism development. As far as conserving cultural heritages is concerned, many irreplaceable heritages are on the brink of extinction. Some of them are already no longer in use by their tribes. Tesfalem urges the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and other pertinent stakeholders to throw their full weight behind rescuing tasks.
‘‘Our diversity is our beauty. However, the specter of losing our beauty is looming large since languages and cultures of certain tribes are already fading out. The country would incur a huge loss. Hence, every citizen, concerned about his/her cultural heritages, should rescue those facing extinction,’’ he stated. Regarding expanding infrastructural facilities, Ethiopia has a lot to improve in infrastructural developments like roads, water and electricity.
Having understood the importance of such infrastructural facilities, the government should strive to put new ones in place and improve those already there. It would be highly difficult to promote and develop cultural tourism without basic infrastructural facilities. Thus, if we want to utilize our untapped cultural resources, we should use them wisely thorough preserving, promoting and developing them. If works are done to this effect, it would prove a vital sector, which could create job opportunities for millions of citizens and source of earning foreign currency
Herald January 27/2019
BY TSEGAY HAGOS
