ADDIS ABABA- The hospitality sector could benefit a lot from rigorous promotion of outdoor cultural and religious festivities, experts in the area suggested.
Speaking to the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), Hotel and Tourism Expert Ashenafi Desta said that Ethiopia has many outdoor festivals which are being celebrated every year.
“A month of September, for example, has several cultural and religious festivals. So, promoting these festivals can easily improve the tourism revenue that we seek to generate,” he indicated.
All Ethiopian festivals have their own unique cultural and religious features that can catch tourists’ eye easily. So, promotions should be carried out by Ethiopians and the tourism sector actors in particular, he noted.
Traditional cloth suppliers and sellers, hotels, tour guides, and governmental institutions should work together so as to make festivals easy for tourists, he urged.
During the past few years, the number of foreign tourists has diminished because of COVID-19 and conflicts in Ethiopia.
This year, the number of tourists is expected to be higher as the effect of COVID-19 and conflicts have already been resolved.
Another tourism expert, Kalab Belachew also said that these festivals can be used as a source to generate foreign currency which Ethiopia is in dire need of.
Promotional works including live streaming through international broadcasters should be enabled.
Senior Tourism Expert, Maru Emagnu, also added that Ethiopian festivals are becoming globally known though it needs more tasks to make them economically important events.
Meskel, Demera, Irrecha, Timket, and Fiche Chambalala are UNESCO inscribed Ethiopian socio-cultural heritages which should be introduced to non-Ethiopian through all available channels of information, he mentioned.
Tourists always need something new and worthy to them. Accordingly, tourist guides should work to promote festivals while doing their businesses, he noted.
Ethiopians celebrate several festivals in the month of September: Enkutatash, Meskel Demera, Irrecha, Yahode, and Mashiro are some of the warm festivals that occur only in September.
BY YESUF ENDRIS
The Ethiopian Herald September 28/2023
