ADDIS ABABA – The coming months would be very busy period for Ethiopia’s hospitality industry as the venues for many international events are scheduled here, relevant sources indicated.
According to recent news by African Business Community, Addis Ababa has become the highest Average Daily Rate (ADR), according to the most recent 12-month data from an American company, Smith TraveResearch (STR).
Due to this fact, Ethiopia is selected to host the Africa Hotel Investment Forum on 23-25 September, 2019. Therefore, Ethiopian Investment Commission is doing well to prepare suitable facilities to increase conference tourism of the country, says Mekonen Hailu Public Relation Director with the Commission.
Mekonnen further states that domestic and foreign companies’ engagement in Ethiopia hotel industry helps the country to strengthen its hotel investment. Additionally, the occurrence of African Union Hall, United Nations Conference Centers and any other different International sets in Ethiopia helps the country to expand its conference tourism, he remarked.
Asrat Begashaw, Corporate Communication Manager at Ethiopian Air Lines on his part told The Ethiopian Herald that Ethiopia is becoming the most preferred venue for international and continental conferences as a result of its aggressive investment on the hospitality industry.
According to him, launching services like online VISA, VISA on arrival and other comfortable situations for participants from the starting to the ending period of the conferences, including transport and hotel service by the company makes international event organizers to select Ethiopia for their destinations.
Similarly, different new international organizations are still applying to make their conference here in Ethiopia. Accordingly, the coming months of the year 2020 are already reserved by various international and continental forums and conferences, he avowed.
The new Sky Light hotel with its conference hall has also created a better opportunity for the foreign companies to host their meeting here. The conference tourism is also essential for its contribution in generating foreign exchange that is paramount important for the economic growth of the country.
The Ethiopian Herald August 17/ 2019
BY HIZKEL HAILU
