Axum, the city in northern Ethiopia, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities since 400 BC, is known for being one of the four ancient origins of world civilizations. That seems why tourists, archaeologists, researchers, historians among many others travel to this old city, 95% of whose secret is not yet discovered, at a regular basis.
As to Gebremedhin Fitsumbirhan, Head, Axum Culture and Tourism office, says the flow of tourists to Axum is increasing from time to time. For instance 12,750 and 18,800 foreign tourists have visited Axum and its environs in 2009 and 2010 E.C respectively and that shows an increase of more 6000. According to the sector’s performance so far, it is estimated that the number of such foreign tourists would reach more than 20,000 at the end of this budget year.
The current situation between Ethiopia and Eritrea is another plus that tourists who come through Eritrea would increase the flow of tourists to Axum.
The same is true for domestic tourists; this year; more than 1,000,000 pilgrims and visitors from various parts of the nation have come and colorfully celebrated Hidar Tsion (the annual festivity of the St. Mary of Zion.). As to him, the domestic pilgrims and visitors have showed steady growth than ever before, as was witnessed through live transmissions, amid sporadic domestic instabilities around some areas of the nation.
The other noteworthy issue with regard to this year’s festivity was the number of Eritrean busses and automobiles flown to Axum carrying quite lots of Eritrean pilgrims.
Gebremedhin told this reporter that the office in collaboration with the city administration of Axum has been and is still doing all what it can to create a conducive environment for tourists who come to visit Axum. The paving of coble stone worth of 7 million Birr that takes tourists who want to walk to the tomb of Emperor Kaleb, a wonderful historical sight, is one adds on to the scenario.
Previously, it was not comfortable for tourists who want to walk on foot for it was dusty so that they used to go to the site only via automobile. In other words, they have been missing quite lots of other wonderful sceneries on their way to the tomb.
The other worth mentioning success in this regard as said by him, is tourists’ access to internet. By now, the office has its own visitor center where visitors can have access to fast internet and Wi Fi services. This is among the other recent phenomena undertaken by the office taking the comments of various tourists in to account which is by now enhancing tourists’ satisfaction.
Besides, tourists also have full access to these services in all the standard hotels in the city. They all have such services as it is among the other requirements of standardization. According to the head, Axum, so far has five 2 to 3 star designated hotels labeled by the concerned body of the federal government. However, there are also 15 hotels providing equivalent services to tourists, but yet waiting to be labeled by the concerned organ. For this purpose, the office along with the Culture and Tourism Agency of Tigray has been supervising them. Beyond that, the concerned organ of the federal government has, as well made the same supervision. As a result, the owners of these hotels have, since then been working in accordance with what they were told to do so as to fill their gaps thereby be labeled next.
Meanwhile, three investors have also finalized all their preparations and already started constructing three 5 star hotels. These are highly expected to enhance the provision of quality service to tourists thus increase the flow of tourists to the city. Not only that but the city has also various standard parks along with fast WIFI service where tourists can stay and refresh their minds. Ezana Park, an ancient park which has also quite lots of tourist attractions with in it is the noteworthy one among many others in this regard. Furthermore, there are more than 5 standard traditional recreation centers which are playing pivotal role in promoting the image of the ancient city of Axum, he added.
According to Gebremedhin, by now, there are more than 50 officially recognized tourist guides to guide tourists who come to visit the 11 tourist attraction sites within the city. As could be learnt from him, the Stelae field with its quite many other historical sites beneath that minimally takes a day long to visit, the tomb of king Kaleb which is hard to believe that everything in and around the tomb is made by human being, the palace of Queen of Sheba, Gobo Dura (the quarry site of the obelisks of Axum), the Church of Saint Mary Tsion (Zion) where the Ark of the Covenant, or Tabot containing the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments brought from Jerusalem to Axum by Menelik I, the son of Queen Sheba and King Solomon three thousand years ago; the new church of St. Yared, the Saint pioneer in inventing the musical notation of world music and the sacred music tradition of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church; the tomb of Emperor Bazen are of the 11 attraction sites within the ancient city just to mention a few among many others.
Hawelti Melazo, the battle field of Adwa and its chained mountains, the temple of Yeha which had served as the capital of the pre-Axumite kingdom of Damat et cetera are also the other attraction sites near by the city that tourists who come to Axum should pay a visit.
As per the head, the sector has created many jobs to various segments of the society in various fields such as basketry, gift items and souvenirs among others. For example 70 trained women on basketry have got sheds for production and sale and the office has created them market linkage across the nation and abroad. And there are many more others who have got such trainings on basketry but have not been yet linked with merchants and whole sellers. Likewise, there are many others engaged in scraping of stele and crosses from stones. In this regard, the office has given training to 10 women and created them three years’ market linkage. Moreover, there are more than 28 officially known photographers, 7 tour operators and more than 100 souvenir traders just to mention a few among many others.
As for the head, the office is working with various stakeholders at all levels. For instance the office has a multifaceted relation with Axum University which was, from the very beginning, established at Axum to serve as tourism archaeology Excellency Center. As a result, the university is contributing its share by providing various supports in the efforts to promote the sector by creating a web site.
The university has specially played a significant role in supporting the office in its efforts to create a zonal tourist map. Moreover, it has not only started its own archaeological excavations but also has discovered new heritages, so this is promising though it is not still satisfactory as compared to the objective it was established with.
He said that the Culture and Tourism Agency of Tigray is not, by now, giving due attention to the heritages in Axum thinking that they could be supported by UNESCO for they are international heritages registered by it. However, as said by him, UNESCO, is not, by now, supporting these heritages to the extent required as compared to the previous times and the same is true to the federal ministry of culture and tourism, “So these heritages could be damaged for they are now suspended in between these parties unless they are repaired and protected at the right time and condition.
For instance, it is already identified by research that the obelisks have problems in their basement which would cause a serious problems if the concerned organ of the federal government could not take urgent measure,” he underscored.
Gebremedhin expressed that his office has been working to let tourists stay for 4 consecutive days at the end of GTP two. Currently their average stay is 2 and half days so it is unattainable, he added. The solution, as to him, is reaching on agreement with tour operators at Addis Ababa who misinform tourists telling a day long stay could be enough to visit Axum and its environs.
Moreover, there are even situations where these operators take tourists back to Addis Ababa after let them visit Gondar, Lalibela and Afar while the tourists themselves sometimes ask them where Axum is. The problem, as to him, arises due to information gap about the potential tourist destination wonders in the city and its environs.
“In this regard, there must be government intervention both at federal and state level. The state should, specially, create stages and invite all big tour operators centered at Addis Ababa which bring international tourists to take part by covering all their accommodations thereby let them know the reality on the ground,” he stressed.
Axum culture and tourism office has now launched its own new website: www.aksumcultureandtourism.org
Herald December 12/2018
BY SHUSHAY ADANE
