A number of countries’ economic successes rely on their tourism potential. It is a widely accepted fact that tourism has multiple returns and creates incalculable opportunities for host destinations in many ways. It creates job opportunities for local communities, helps to develop the infrastructures of a country and ensures sustainable development by being a source of foreign currency.
Aside from that, tourism is a crucial sector to learn the social and cultural values of destination countries, and build the image of countries.
Irrefutably, Ethiopia is a country endowed with diverse tourist attractions. Ranging from cultural and natural sites to historic monuments and rituals, the country is blessed vastly.
Places like the Bale and Simien Mountains National parks, Danakil Depression, the Omo Valley, the Rock Hewn churches of Lalibela and the Obelisks of Axum coupled with Ethiopians’ traditional dishes and their cultural and religious festivals, among the others, are the attractions that make the country a unique place for tourists.
However, the country is blessed with stunning attractions that have power to take visitors’ breath away with wonderment; the revenue gained from the sector is not at the desired level.
In fact, to gain the sought after returns and improve the livelihood of localities thereby enabling the country to generate a considerable amount of revenue from the sector, currently wide ranging activities are undertaken by the government. The renovation of the existing ones as well as the construction of new tourist destinations is well underway across the country.
Mainly, under the initiatives launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to develop world class tourist destinations through the programs – Dine for Sheger, Dine for Ethiopia and Dine for Generations- multifaceted works are ongoing and the efforts are gaining productive outcome in stimulating nation’s tourist influx, promoting sustainable tourism sector nationwide and paving the way in transforming nation tourism sector.
In his recent remark, Tourism State Minister Sileshi Girma said that projects launched under the Dine for the Nation program are being constructed to accommodate a large number of tourists.
All the projects are eco-friendly and expected to attract a larger number of tourists than the usual ones; thereby promoting the overall development including job creation, he indicated.
Wonchi Dendi Lodge which is a part of the Dine for the Nation project will also be inaugurated soon, according to the Project Facilitator, Daba Jinfiesa.
The construction of Wonchi Dendi Ecotourism project which incorporates roads and tracks, sport and entertainment centers, cafeterias, restaurants, halls, bed rooms and other international standard lodge facilities is nearing to be inaugurated, Daba said.
The Elephant Paw Lodge, located in Dawuro Zone of South West Ethiopia, and clustered under the larger Koysha and Halala Kela project, was also inaugurated recently. In the park, several dominant animals, including elephants, lions, buffalos, leopards, and greater kudus amongst others, have harbored.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Ayalew Sisay (PhD) Senior Tourism Expert also expressed his reflections pertaining to the Dine projects, their role in stimulating the tourism sector; and the impact on lifting up the image of the nation.
The metropolis deserves diversified destinations because it is a major center of transit and home to the largest number of its residents. Moreover, the city is where the headquarters of the Africa Union (AU) and Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) are stationed. The city should have a place to stay out of the door.
According to him, the Dine projects have energized local tourism and created an opportunity to offer diversified destinations for visitors. Just to mention, the Dine for Sheger project has practically brought about encouraging results by changing the face of the capital and uplifting its image in a manner befitting to its name-‘Addis Ababa’ to mean ‘New flower’ through renovating and constructing the Entoto, Friendship, Unity Parks, and carrying out the riverside development activities.
“In my view, the new tourist destinations are playing a significant role in shoring up the number of tourists and extending their time span in the metropolis. Now, the city has befitted to its name -Addis Ababa ‘New flower’ – and enhanced the well-being of its dwellers, because clean environs promote good health. However, this does not mean that everything is over; rather there are lots of assignments to be done. Thus, more concerted efforts are needed to meet the desired demands,” he underlined.”
The Dine for Sheger project, did not only give a boost to the tourism sector but also helped in mitigating river flooding and the creation of public spaces and parks, bicycle paths and walkways along the riverside, which made the city comfortable for tourists.
Responding to the Bureau’s effort in facilitating increased collaboration works with pertinent stakeholders in a bid to shore up transit passengers’ stay in the city, develop Addis Ababa’s tourist attractions; he said that the Ethiopia Airlines and the Bureau as well as tour operators should work in collaboration.
He finally said that the Dine for Sheger initiative has served as a benchmark for other projects to be replicated in other parts of the country where potential tourism sites are found. “We are witnessing the success in thee “Dine for Nation” project too through the construction of the Gorgora, Wonchi and Koyisha, tourist destinations which are endowed with breathtaking natural attractions,” he added.
The plan has also been set to develop areas in various parts of the country through the ‘Dine for Generation’ initiative. According to the scheme, in this initiative, tourist destinations including the Geralta, in Tigray State, Hayk, in Amhara State, Jimma, in Oromia State, as well as Arbaminch in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples State (SNNP), will be developed. Unquestionably, the projects add significant values in boosting the economic return of the tourism sector and pave ways in ensuring sustainable economic development.
The Dine initiatives are game changer projects and have immense multiple positive impacts. They are instrumental to improve the livelihood of local communities, conserve natural resources and the environment, and contribute to local infrastructure development. What is more, they have made significant contributions to preserve cultural and traditional assets, and reduce the level of poverty and inequality among citizens. Thus, all citizens and development partners should support the efforts, he opined.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY13 JANUARY 2024
