BY TEWODROS KASSA
Emerging economies and developing nations have a lot of potential for almost all types of tourism, which is considered as a double blade sword for their economic development. It is obvious that tourism has a key role to boost the local economy, supports the construction of local infrastructure, generates jobs, protects the environment, and preserves cultural heritage, and fights poverty and inequality. This is especially true if locals can take advantage of the revenue opportunities provided by tourists.
Ethiopia has outstanding achievements in the sport sector. The country’s athletes are known for specializing in long distance running. The highlands of Ethiopia is home to numerous well known athletes including Abebe Bikila, Mammo Wolde, Haile Gebre Selassie, Derartu Tulu, Kenesisa Bekele, among others.
Shambel Abebe Bikila was an Ethiopian marathon runner who was a back-to-back Olympic marathon champion. He is the first Ethiopian Olympic gold medalist, winning his and Africa’s first gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome while running barefoot.
Therefore, it is important to commemorate the legendary athletes of the country annually and initiate new ideas on how to utilize their remarkable achievements in the tourism sector. The country has been organizing different great runs in different cities across the country. The Addis Ababa Ethiopian Great run attracted numerous international tourists and gained momentum through the largest number of participants.
Recently, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and concerned bodies announced that the government gives due priority towards enhancing sports tourism that helps revive the tourist influx and flourish the nation’s development. During a recent sporting event held under the theme: “Lewokish Ethiopia.” MoT Minister Amb. Nasissie Chali said that Ethiopian Great Run is believed to be one of the most important events to promote tourism in Ethiopia, as a result, various activities are undertaken to tap the untapped resources of the country that help increase tourist destinations.
“The community and stakeholders particularly prominent athletes who are hailed from the town are expected to play a lion’s share in creating training facilities, investment in hotels and other tourism development opportunities,” On the other hand, Sports Tourism is among the basic elements of Ethiopia’s diplomacy and there is ample opportunity to foster the longstanding Ethiopia- Kenya relations through athletics, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) said.
The Minister Nasisie Chali stated that a plan was set to create sisterly relations between Bekoji and Eldorate, Kenya’s home for well-known athletes. The ministry is vigorously working to the development of the town’s tourism potentials and working with different partners including Great Run Ethiopia to enhance sport tourism.
Citing the Oromia State deputy chief administrator’s promise to build a stadium with better facilities in Bekoji, the minister noted that “such a move would encourage investors to do business in the tourism and hospitality sector. The Bekoji Great Run aimed to attract investment in the tourism sector and contribute to Ethiopian athletics and world’s long distance running.”
“We are keen to tie Bekoji and Eldora together because of their shared history and the contribution to the world athletics. However, the former has not been benefited a lot due to its inaccessibility in infrastructure.” Nasise added: “By next year, we will invite officials and athletes from Kenya to run in Bekoji that would help for the development of both towns and strengthen the brotherly love and competitive spirit between the two countries.”
As tourism is one of the top five priority areas of the Ethiopian government development strategy, the country is undertaking wide promotion of its cultural assets to generate more income from the sector. Close collaboration between the tourism sector, stakeholders, the community and government is required to increase the sustainability and crisis resilience of tourism in further supporting nation`s growing economy.
The Ethiopian government is exerting utmost efforts in the investment sector, especially in building and developing tourist destinations aiming to increase the flow of global tourists. The Ethiopian Airlines has been playing an immense role in promoting the country’s tourism potential and efforts are underway to make air travel affordable for African brothers and sisters to come and visit, she remarked.
On the Bekoji great run, Oromia State Deputy Chief administrator Awolu Abdi president stated that we are aggressively working to develop infrastructures through various initiatives such as constructing running tracks, establishing sport council, reserving areas for sporting activities, supporting sport academies, among others.
“Sport is one of the co-curricular disciplines that is being given due emphasis in 16,000 schools in the state. In addition, sport academies like Sululta Sport Academy, Kenennisa, Tirunesh Sport academies in Assela including Tirunesh Dibaba Athletics Center are now given more attention,” he added.
Awolu called up on development partners, stakeholders, local and international athletes, and the general public to work hand in glove in hotel investments, stadium construction in the historic town that has not benefited a lot from sport tourism and its natural gift. A large number of athletes from and around Bekoji Town, Tirunesh Dibaba Athletics Center and many elite athletes and athletes under 15 have taken part in the competition, it was learnt.
Officials handed over cash prizes, medals, and other gifts to the winning athletes. Champions under 15 are given scholarships to join to the Tirunesh Athletics Training Center. Besides, elite winners of the Great Bekoji Run are going to compete in the coming Eldoret road race competition.
He said that the state is aggressively working to develop infrastructures through various initiatives such as constructing running tracks, establishing sport council, reserving areas for sporting activities, supporting sport academies, among others.
“Sport is one of the co-curricular disciplines that is being given due emphasis in 16,000 schools in the state. In addition, sport academies like Sululta Sport Academy, Kenennisa, Tirunesh Sport academies in Assela including Tirunesh Dibaba Athletics Center are now given more attention,” he added.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 23 JUNE 2023
