ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Tourism Organization (ETO) disclosed that it has been preparing recovery plan for the tourism industry that is hit hard by COVID -19.
ETO Communication Director Fitsum Kassahun told The Ethiopian Herald that the recovery plan would help the sector in the efforts of rebuilding its business.
“The main focus on will be maintaining the previous tourism flow of the country apart from easing the negative impacts of COVID-19. The plan will be completed by next week.”
Citing various tasks that are being carried out in collaboration with stakeholders particularly to address the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector, he pointed out that digital videos are being developed in collaboration with the World Bank Group on Digital Marketing.
As to him, ETO is working with various media and three-month media coverage bids have been streamed on radio, on TV to introduce the countries tourism destination places.
“The media would continue to work on issues that can help shape the current state of our country.”
Tourism Ethiopia is promoting and developing, coordinating destination development activities of the Ethiopian tourist destinations through online social media by making short videos.
Although tourists cannot visit tourist destinations today, the country is now busy with the online delivery of promotion that promises to be ready for visitors when coronavirus totally disappears from the
earth, the director said.
“We are doing operational jobs; extensive works are not being carried out because of COVID-19 pandemic. And we are working to update and publicize tourism activities within the country. The existing tourism destination development projects are under review.”
It is to be recalled that Ethiopia experienced the highest tourism growth in the world, surpassing the global average growth rate of 3.9% and the African average of 5.6% in 2017. During the period, the sector supported 2.2 million jobs and contributed 7.4 billion USD to Ethiopia’s economy.
The Ethiopian Herald April 28/2020
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
