Ethiopia, being headquarter to numerous international and regional organizations has a potential to generate more income from conference tourism. Following this, the country has become more competitive in the sector through attracting numerous international tourists and hosting regional and international conferences.
So far, efforts are underway to stimulate and develop the country’s conference tourism. In this respect, private actors in the hospitality industry are working closely with the government to render quality conference services in the country. Active Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) also said fundamental to lead the sector effectively.
Recently, the Ethiopian Tourism and Hotel Market Association stated that it is striving to encourage conference tourism to gain adequate benefit through exploiting potentials. The association highlighted the importance of outstanding touristic services towards gaining sustainable reputation through hosting conferences.
Association President Getahun Alemu told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that more activities are being undertaken to encourage conference tourism to gain adequate benefit from the field.
The Association together with the Ministry of Tourism has planned to generate over 500,000,000 USD by attracting 1,000,000 tourists this Ethiopian fiscal year. The association is working closely with other stakeholders such as the Ethiopian Airlines and hotels to maximize tourist inflow, Getahun said.
Ethiopia hosts a number of conference tourism such as International Governance Forum in the past year despite the dissemination of misinformation by some foreign media about the country’s peace, he stated.
Conversely, he noted that the tourist inflow in the past year is appreciable and it has promoted the positive image of the nation.
“Currently, the Association is taking the transit passengers to the destinations in the city such as Unity, Friendship, and Entoto Parks to relish. These tourism projects are significantly helpful to motivate the tourism sector in the country. Besides, a common understanding has been reached with the Taxi Association to promote the tourism slogan of ‘Land of Origins’ and to transport those coming from abroad to attend African Union meetings whilst this service fee is covered by the association,” he noted.
Getahun believed that tourists come to Ethiopia for three reasons such as to attend conferences, to visit historical places, and safari destinations.
He further stated that the Ethiopian Tourism and Hotel Award (Nejash Award) will be held in Skylight Hotel on December 30 aiming at supporting the area that had been exposed to damage due to the conflict in the northern part of the country.
Some 200 potential tourists will observe the area to support renovation activities of the Al Nejashi Mosque, he added.
“Promoting tourism potentials at the international level even using the English Premier League -the way Rwanda did is significant for tourism development,” he stated, mentioning how Rwanda attracted tourists by promoting the slogan “Visit Rwanda” on the sleeves of the players of Arsenal Football club.
Recently, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) confirmed that Ethiopia is one of the leading countries in the development of international tourism in 2023. The organization has published its quarterly report on the flow of international visitors and related information on the Tourism Barometer.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Tourism has been undertaking various measures to fulfill the luxurious touristic demands of the international tourists. These include improving the accommodation, transportation, tour operators, among others services. In doing so the ministry continuously is undertaking hotel ratings across the country so as to promote standardized services for tourists.
Ministry Tourist Service Delivery Institutions Competency Assessment and Ranking Leader Tariku Demssie told The Ethiopian Herald that some 20 hotels are selected to get star rating by fulfilling the evaluation criteria in the near future.
Over the last two years, the Ministry performed supervision, support and evaluation of over 100 hotels to give star ratings in which 64 of them were identified for evaluation and review.
However, only 20 hotels are currently competent to get star ratings fulfilling compulsory hotel fire safety requirements across the country, he expressed.
The remaining hotels and institutions failed to get star ratings due to lack of compulsory hotel fire safety requirements, plus poor awareness and absence of interest by owners for hotel star rating has challenged the effort, he stated.
“The star rating of hotels is functional for three consecutive years through applying 12 parameters. The new proclamation approved by the House of Peoples’ Representatives stipulates the upgrading and downgrading the hotels’ star rating based on specific criteria of their level of service delivery,” he said.
The Ministry used various criterions to determine star ratings of hotels including room and suite amenities, guest services, and overall hotel condition. The standardization would help hotels to improve their amenities and services over time which pay back them to upgrade their level in star rating, he underlined.
In sum, the availability of substantial conference facilities for the meetings industry, high quality accommodation services nearby the convention centers, building latest conference centers, availability of affordable cost of flights, sufficient information, internal peace, among others are the fundamental preconditions to make the country more preferable conference tourism destination and enable to host conference delegates successfully.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) report, Eastern Africa countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya are among the top preferable countries in becoming the leading choice of international and regional conference organizers in Africa.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2023
