BY LEULSEGED WORKU
Tourism potential is one source of income as well as a good instrument to promote the image of any nation. Ethiopia, as a land of several tourist attraction sites and diverse religious and cultural heritages that are celebrated on streets uniquely and warmly, has a lot to offer to the global community in this regard.
The recently marked festivals such as Demera and Meskel, (the Finding of the True Cross), Irreechaa (Thanksgiving Day of Oromo people), Gifata and Gaaro-Woro, Wolaita and Shinasha peoples New Year festivities are good indicators for this. As it is recently witnessed, several local and foreign tourists have flocked to attend those annual festivals in areas where the festivals took place.
After the tide of the Coronavirus pandemic and some kind of political instabilities, the tourism sector has seen revival within a short period. The measures the government has taken to sustain peace concerting with states’ administrations; plus its commitment to reinvigorate the tourism sector, thereby boost its contribution to national economy can be taken as a good remedy in this regard.
The southern nation, which is home to several nations, nationalities and peoples’ and blessed with numerous tangible and intangible tourist attractions is one among the other states that is actively engaged to promote the tourism sector and increase the income from the sector.
As it was stated by State’s Culture and Tourism Bureau recently, the Bureau is working aggressively to increase State’s income from tourism through developing tourist attraction sites that are found in the State.
Currently, setting a goal to earn 640 million Birr from the sector at this Ethiopian budget year, the Bureau is working aggressively.
As Bureau’s Head Hailemairam Tesfaye stated to local media, there are several cultural, historic, and natural attractions in the State. Thus, the Bureau is working persistently to increase the income the State from the sector.
“We are currently working to increase the income by improving infrastructure and making the sites accessible.”
Apart from promoting the five parks that are found within the State (Mago, Maze, Nech Sar, Gibe Valley) the Bureau is working committedly to enhance tourists’ satisfaction and extend their length of stay in the State.
Ranging from preparation of Gedeo Coffee (coffee seedling preparation) to the making of cultural coffee ceremony of the people, the Bureau works giving due attention in promoting Murule, Wolshi, Tamana, Chelba wildlife conservation and hunting areas.
What is more, efforts are underway to develop and promote heritages that have already inscribed by UNESCO such as Tiya, Omo Vally and Konso and other cultural values of the community in order to benefit the local community, the Head added.
As to Hailemariam, for those who want to visit the tangible and intangible attractions of the State, an information system is developed. Further, by preparing tourist’s guide map and developing various applications, activities are being carried out to promote the attractions through websites and other ways.
As part of its ambition to promote the tourism sector, the government, apart from developing an efficient system, provides all the necessary support for those who want to engage in the tourism service sector, including provision of land, he elucidated.
As to the Head, out of the 3 million local and foreign tourists that are expected to visit the State’s tourist attractions, it is planned to collect 640 million Birr. Similarly, in the current budget year, a plan is set to create job for over10, 000 citizens from the sector.
Mentioning the availability of 17 star rated hotels in tourist attraction sites and in the surrounding areas, he said 10 additional hotels are under construction.
State’s Heritage Research Conservation and Development Team Leader Muluneh Tefera on his part said, “The State is a home to several tangible and intangible cultural values that can generate income. For this reason it is important to work accordingly.”
There are several cultural values and activities that are appreciated by visitors. This includes the New Year festivals of the Wolaita people’s “Gifta’ and the Gamos’ “Yo Meskele”. The cultural practice of Hammer’s Evangadi, Ukli Gadi and Bodi, which is fatness competition, are among the various cultural values and practices of that attract tourists to the destinations, he remarked.
The information obtained from the region indicates that 3.3 million local and foreign tourists visited attraction sites last year and 551 million birr was collected.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 4 OCTOBER 2022
