BY TSEGAY HAGOS –
Following the invasion of Italy, some buildings and market places have been established and named by them. One of them is Merkato. Merkato is the largest open air market place in Africa. It covers several square miles and employs an estimated 13,000 people in 7,100 business entities. It is a place where more than 80 nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia share their products, cultures, languages and beliefs to each other. Everything is traded in Merkato. It ranges from high-tech commodities to various agricultural products. It is a place where all parts of the society make business transactions. Its huge number of traders, its corrugated iron slums and its narrow pedestrian roads make Merkato the unique tourist and trade center in the African continent.
In addition to this, there are momentous building built by foreigners. Indian and Armenian buildings are still standing in the city to show an interesting architectural masterpieces and tourism significance,’’ the expert explained.
As to him, cultural and historical festivities are also among the many tourist attraction. Mesqel. Timket, Eid-Alftir, Irreecha, Adwa victory day and so on are the sources of tourism. For instance, the Addis Ababa City Administration has played a massive role to celebrate the 125th Adwa victory. It was celebrated colorfully showing the sacrifice and heroism of our forefathers. And the city’s administration should have to be acknowledged since it has organized and mobilized the public to celebrate it in a wonderful way for the first time in decades. Celebrating in such a way would attract more tourists, Mekbib stated.
Before the pandemic, tourism had a lion’s share in the economy of Addis. Tour and travel agencies have been highly affected. “We can’t talk about tourists and tourists at this time. The pandemic has halted tourist flow. As a result, those who have been involved in the sector were severely harmed,’’ as to Mekibib.
As long as producing skilled and qualified human power, many activities remain to be accomplished. Though government has been working to build the capacity of the working force which is being employed in the sector, the role of private sector should exert their maximum efforts to enhance the sector. Lion Ethiopia Tourism and Hotel College Dean Zerihun Mokenen said tourism and hospitality training institutions have big responsibility to produce modern and skilled human power.
‘‘There are some challenges facing to the fastest growing hotel industry like lack of sufficient and competent professionals, lack of strong and continuous research and professional support which could able to provide essential input for modernizing the sector. Having understood this, our institution is producing competent and skilled graduates who could play significant part in the development of hotel and hospitality sector. This would be crucial for tourism sector of the city and the country at large,’’ he stated.
As to him, hotel and tourism training institutions, tour guides, tour and travel agencies and other pertinent bodies should work together to modernize the sector. Tourism websites and media outlets ought to promote and document tourism destinations and heritages.
‘‘We are in the era of science and technology. People would look at website and book their travel and tourist destination online. Therefore, we have to create modern publicity and promotion method that would attract tourist easily,’’ Zerihun added.
For his part, Public Relations Director at Tourism Ethiopia, Fitsum Kasahun said that there is a better infrastructural development in Addis Ababa, but more should be done to attract tourists.
‘’When we talk about infrastructure, it includes internet, bank and electric access. As most tourist destinations lack such basic infrastructures, tourists opt to shorten their stay. Addis Ababa and other few tourist destinations have such facilities. Hence, these constraints should be addressed to increase tourist flow,’’ as to him.
As to Fistsum, Tourism Ethiopia and other stakeholders are striving to modernize the tourism sector of Addis and other destinations.
“Our organization prioritizes for expanding global market and searching local market opportunities. Besides, it tries to fulfill basic facilities in tourist destinations. For this reason, we are working to carry out more endeavors’’ Addis Ababa has shown incredible development over the last few decades. It has been marching on remarkable construction advancement. Nowadays, small villages are changing into modernized towns and cities.
Government and the private sector are striving to construct basic infrastructures like roads, electricity, piped water, and hospitals to fulfill the needs of the dwellers. Numerous standardized hotels, restaurants, theatre houses, museums, malls, condominiums, apartments, parks and squares have been constructed. The city also became the pioneer to introduce the first light trail in Sub Saharan Africa. All these have been playing a vital for the development of tourism sector and they would make Addis the top tourist destinations in Africa and beyond.
The Ethiopian Herald June 18 /2021
