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In-depth: From spotlight to the shadows: Ethiopia’s tourism odyssey hangs in the balance

ethiopia tourism sector

By Biruk Alemu @Birukalemu21

Addis Abeba –  In the heart of East Africa, Ethiopia unfurls a mosaic of marvels recently thrust into the limelight by UNESCO’s accolades, signaling a tourism renaissance. From the towering majesty of the Bale Mountains to the serene retreats of Lepis Eco Tourism Village, the nation’s canvas is rich with the strokes of history and the vibrant hues of cultural festivities like Shawwal Eid.

Ethiopia is gradually placing its bets on the allure of its rich cultural tapestry and breathtaking landscapes, especially after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed assumed power in 2018. The current administration is trying to champion the hospitality and tourism sector, steering it into the limelight as a key driver for growth and prosperity.

With a series of government-led initiatives designed to elevate the tourism experience, Ethiopia is not only trying to beckon travelers from around the globe but also paving the way for a surge in local economic opportunities.

The inauguration of the Halala Kela Resort last year represents a critical element of Prime Minister Abiy’s administration endeavor designed to optimize the utilization of the area’s natural resources, thereby facilitating the growth of greenery attraction sites nationwide.

The recent initiatives, prominently featuring mega projects such as the Chebera Churchura Elephant Paw Lodge, also occupy a central role in the enterprises spearheaded by the government.

Last week , Prime Minister Abiy inaugurated the awe-inspiring Chebera Churchura Elephant Paw Lodge, a cornerstone of his administration’s ambitious ‘Dine for Ethiopia’ mega project.

Nestled in the verdant heart of the Dawuro Zone in South West Ethiopia Regional State, this luxurious retreat emerges as a dazzling showcase of Ethiopia’s rich natural endowments, inviting the world to witness the country’s unfolding renaissance in eco-tourism.

Yet, beneath the allure, a specter of unrest casts a long shadow, threatening to dim the burgeoning promise of tourism. As whispers of uncertainty deter would-be explorers, the urgency for peace grows, lest the world remain deprived of Ethiopia’s full splendor.

Despite significant investment in tourism initiatives, Ethiopia confronts considerable challenges, according to industry players. As international tourism experiences a resurgence in the aftermath of the pandemic, ongoing regional conflicts pose a risk to Ethiopia’s emergence as a leading travel destination. An authority in the field revealed to Addis Standard, “The potential is undeniable, but instability acts as a handbrake on progress.”

Research indicates that the hospitality industry was formerly a pivotal element in Ethiopia’s economic advancement, contributing significantly to the nation’s economic growth. It was instrumental in creating jobs, generating income, accruing foreign exchange, and providing social advantages.

Subsequent to 2019, the sector has encountered a multitude of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic conflict, drought conditions, and fiscal vulnerabilities. The World Travel & Tourism Council ‘s most recent analysis highlights that Ethiopia’s travel and tourism sector has undergone marked volatility from 2019 to 2022, largely as a result of the worldwide COVID-19 health crisis and ongoing internal strife.

Conflicts, not merely local disturbances, ravage the tourism sector.” Nahom Admasu, managing director of Pleasure Ethiopia Tour and Travel Agency

In the year 2019, the travel and tourism sector was a substantial contributor to Ethiopia’s economy, representing 6.3% of the gross domestic product (GDP). By the year 2022, the sector’s direct contribution to GDP had reached ETB 329.7 billion (equivalent to USD 6.3 billion), which constituted 5.6% of the total economy. This figure indicated a recuperation from the decline witnessed in 2020, yet it remained a diminution from the levels seen in 2019.

The employment scenario within Ethiopia’s travel and tourism sector also experienced a decline in 2022 when contrasted with 2019 figures. As per the World Travel & Tourism Council’s report, the sector directly sustained 645,113 jobs in 2022. While this number is substantial, it falls short of the employment levels recorded during the pre-pandemic era.

From prominence to uncertainty

Industry experts and stakeholders interviewed by Addis Standard have also depicted the grim state of affairs for the tourism sector, attributing its downturn to persistent conflicts and instability across several regions. They have highlighted a marked decrease in the number of tourists, observing that current visitors are predominantly those attending conferences in Addis Abeba.

This decline is further exacerbated as numerous nations have enacted travel restrictions on Ethiopia, citing concerns over the lack of security in different parts of the country.

The resurgence of conflict involving the non-state militia, Fano, instigated by alterations in regional security arrangements, has drained optimism from the once-bustling locales of Gondar and the tranquil trails of Lalibela.

A local tour guide, speaking under the weight of the current tensions, stated, “Peace, not visitors,” reflecting the stagnation that has gripped the tourism sector.

While the tour guide acknowledged the region’s wealth of attractions, including Gondar’s historic sites, the Northern Mountains, the churches of Lalibela, and Lake Tana in Bahir Dar, he voiced deep-seated apprehensions regarding the tourism industry’s trajectory.

He warned that should the unrest and instability persist, the livelihoods of numerous individuals employed within the industry could be imperiled, potentially leaving them without the means to support their families.

“Peace is the lifeline of the tourism industry,” Nahom Admasu, managing director of Pleasure Ethiopia Tour and Travel Agency, stressed with a sense of immediacy.

ethiopia tourism sector

As an active participant in the preeminent Ethiopian Tour Organizations Association, Nahom has directly observed the severe repercussions that even minimal unrest can have on the sector. According to him, the cascade of flight cancellations, unoccupied accommodations, and quiet dining establishments are indicative of foregone reservations, the impact of which resonates down the entire tourism value chain, affecting entities from thriving airlines to service providers.

“Peace is the missing polish for Ethiopia’s tourism crown,” lamented Nahom, who observed that tourists stay away, leaving not just empty streets but empty coffers.

“Foreign currency, the lifeblood of development, slips through our grasp, deepening our economic woes,” emphasized Nahom. “Conflicts, not merely local disturbances, ravage the tourism sector.”

Nahom indicates the travel restrictions imposed due to the Tigray War severely impeded tourist arrivals, and the widespread effects of instability led to the closure of tour operations and the exodus of essential professionals. With Ethiopia’s reputation compromised, he says the endeavor to attract tourists has become an exceedingly difficult challenge.

Fitsum Gezahegn, director of the Ethiopian Tour Organizations Association, an entity dedicated to promoting the nation and drawing tourists, has acknowledged the sharp decline in tourist arrivals as a consequence of Ethiopia’s persistent conflicts. “Ethiopia’s vibrant tapestry of ancient wonders and bustling markets lies tragically muted, its colors bleeding away under the weight of ongoing conflicts.”

Despite the presence of a few daring visitors who manage to overcome the hurdles of travel to Ethiopia, Fitaum maintains that their numbers are merely a fraction of what the country could potentially attract. “High travel costs, limited availability, and gnawing safety concerns keep the majority of adventurers at bay.”

Additionally, industry observers note that travel bans, arising from stringent restrictions, are further suffocating the vitality of the tourism sector. “Unprecedented challenges are currently facing the Ethiopian tourism industry despite its existence for the past 50 years,” the director stated to Addis Standard.

Fitsum underscored the profound impact of the absence of peace in regions renowned for Ethiopia’s cultural, historical, and natural treasures on the tourism sector as a whole. He detailed that the ripple effects of the industry’s decline are pervasive, affecting individuals at every level of society, with a notable surge in unemployment rates among those who were once gainfully employed in tourism.

By drawing a compelling analogy, the director likened the current turmoil within the tourism industry to the potential consequences that would ensue from impeding the exports of coffee and oilseeds, vital commodities in Ethiopia’s export portfolio.

He highlighted that the repercussions of ongoing conflicts extend beyond mere economic dimensions, impairing domestic tourism as well. With a strong call to action, Fitaum ardently championed the cause of enduring peace and implored all factions involved in the conflict to initiate constructive dialogue, with the aim of devising a solution that promotes stability and rejuvenates the tourism industry.

Experts in the domain caution that the persistent conflicts will gravely affect the hotel industry, which is closely intertwined with the fortunes of the tourism sector. Establishments in Addis Abeba and other tourist hotspots have noted a marked decrease in revenue, corresponding with the reduction in tourist visits.

Getahun Alemu, President of the Ethiopian Tourism and Hotels Market Association, has articulated the catastrophic effects of both armed conflict and the so-called “diplomatic war” on the tourism industry. He referenced instances during the Tigray War where embassies disseminated alarmist propaganda, alleging that Addis Abeba was encircled and that commercial aircraft might be at risk of being targeted.

“Such negativity has a devastating effect on tourism,” he stated.

Despite recognizing the destruction caused by the conflict, Getahun posits that the “diplomatic war” has exacted a more substantial toll.

The diplomatic war has exacted a more substantial toll.” Getahun Alemu, President of the Ethiopian Tourism and Hotels Market Association

In light of the unrest present in various regions, the association is deliberately channeling its resources to enhance the visibility of southern Ethiopia’s multitude of tourist attractions. The president highlighted the necessity of shifting the promotional focus, asserting, “We cannot solely rely on northern Ethiopia, which is currently facing conflict. Even if one area experiences unrest, we must actively promote peaceful regions to maintain tourist flow.”

Subsequent to the cessation of hostilities in the Tigray war, the association has undertaken initiatives to provide training and structural support to hospitality establishments in Bahir Dar, Lalibela, and Wollo. Furthermore, the association’s members have pledged to undertake the reorganization of hotels within the Amhara region following the resolution of the conflict.

Resilience in the face of unrest

Despite the devastation wrought by the protracted war in Tigray and its adverse effects on neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar, there is a faint yet discernible spark of recovery in the tourism sector.

A report from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) provides a modest degree of encouragement, indicating a 28% increase in national tourism following the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) between the federal government and forces in Tigray.

The most recent analysis from the World Travel & Tourism Council suggests that Ethiopia’s travel and tourism sector has demonstrated notable resilience amidst global adversities, with an encouraging pattern of recovery becoming apparent by the year 2022. Although the sector has not entirely rebounded to the zenith of its performance in 2019, the report indicates that the sector is well-positioned for sustained growth and an ongoing contribution to the nation’s economic fabric.

According to the report, a pivotal element of Ethiopia’s travel and tourism revenue, visitors’ spending, reached ETB193.1 billion (equivalent to $3.7 billion) in 2022. This represents a significant increase from the figures recorded in 2019, underscoring the enduring allure of Ethiopia as a tourism destination.

Projections for the year 2023 anticipate further augmentation, with the number of international tourists expected to swell, thereby generating increased expenditures.

Authorities have also observed indications of revitalization within the tourism industry. Officials also say there is a spark of recovery in the tourism sector. Recently, the Addis Abeba Bureau of Culture, Arts, and Tourism announced that, during the first three months of the current fiscal year, the tourism sector in the capital has generated a substantial economic inflow exceeding 17.25 billion birr.

Haftay Gebreegziabher, deputy head of the Bureau, reported to the state media that the capital welcomed approximately 268,000 international tourists during the first three months of the current budget year. AS

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Tourism in Ethiopia

Development of the tourism sector in ethiopia from 1995 to 2021.

Tourists per year in Ethiopia

Revenues from tourism

Tourism receipts in Ethiopia per year

All data for Ethiopia in detail

Comparison: quality of life

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DISCOVERING ETHIOPIA | An in depth look at the tourism landscape

ethiopia tourism sector

INTRODUCTION: to Ethiopia’s Enchanting Tourism Landscape

TOURISM : Tourism today moves more than one billion people across international borders each year. Globalization of goods and services, more leisure time, the technological and transport revolutions, the rising middle classes, and the ageing wealthy baby boomers who have both time and money to travel have positioned Tourism as one of the world’s leading growth engines (WTO, 2018). Tourism is a global force for economic growth and development, generating USD 1.7 trillion annually; this represents ~4% of global GDP and ~29% of service exports. Further, a cross-country study by the IMF showed that an increase of one standard deviation in the share of Tourism in exports leads to ~0.5% points in additional annual growth, everything else being constant. In addition, because of its labour-intensive nature, Tourism directly accounts for 1 in 10 jobs. In 2019, the Tourism sector supported ~300 million jobs globally (UNWTO, 2019). The industry also contributes enormously to hard currency generation, with countries like Comoros generating 80% of their export earnings from Tourism. As a result, the World Bank and institutions like UNCTAD and the World Economic Forum strongly believe this sector can boost competitiveness, expand economic opportunity and provide a pathway to prosperity. Various governments set targets to improve and support their Tourism sectors to ensure sustainable growth at the sectoral and individual business levels. Thus, Tourism is an ideal sector for investors who, in particular, desire to expand their business internationally and diversify their portfolios, as Tourism creates the market and the incentive for such growth.

WHY INVEST IN TOURISM?

1. A strongly growing demand

2. Quickly growing revenue

ethiopia tourism sector

3. Fewer infrastructural requirement

TOURISM IN AFRICA

Multiple countries in Africa and, more particularly, in the East African region have found Tourism to be the panacea for their economy. They are investing significantly in tourism infrastructure and marketing to ensure sustainable economic growth.

East Africa, where Ethiopia is located, specializes in Ecotourism and a growing adventure Tourism which enables countries to build specialized tour packages, including safaris, hiking, and bird watching, which are attractive to small groups, solo travellers, and niche tourists.

“ The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa – for he has so much to look forward to Richard Mullin“ The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa – for he has so much to look forward to Richard Mullin

According to WTO, more and more developing countries embrace Tourism to jumpstart their socio-economic development. For over half of the world’s poorest countries, Tourism is a priority instrument for poverty reduction.

The African Union (AU) has identified Tourism as a priority sector for Africa, with the potential to create jobs, boost foreign exchange earnings, and promote cultural exchange. Further, Tourism serves as the thread that connects external image, attracts foreign direct investment, and boosts exports for the continent. Over the past 20 years, Tourism has become vital to African economies. In 2019, the industry accounted for about 7% of Africa’s GDP. It contributed USD 169 billion to its economy, about the size of Côte d’Ivoire’s and Kenya’s combined GDP.

But COVID-19 has created an unprecedented crisis for the Tourism industry. In July 2020, the African Union estimated that Africa lost nearly USD 55 billion in travel and Tourism revenues and two million jobs in the first three months of the pandemic. The International Monetary Fund predicted that real GDP among African countries dependent on Tourism shrunk by 12% in 2020. However, the continent has rapidly recovered in its post-covid era. According to UNWTO, international tourist arrivals have more than doubled, and Africa has registered a growth of 51% in early 2022 compared to 2021.

“­The prospect of visiting Ethiopia attracted me more strongly than a trip to France, England, and America combined.” Nelson Mandela

Rich Culture, Advanced History, and Natural Wonders: UNVEILING ETHIOPIA

Immersing in a land brimming with untapped investment opportunities in rich cultural heritage, ancient wonders, and breath-taking landscapes of Ethiopia has a captivating essence. Ethiopia, the cradle of East Africa’s oldest civilization and a country that has never been colonized, awaits a wealth of investment opportunities. From the mystical Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela to the majestic Castle of Gondar, from the remarkable Stelae of Axum to the captivating Walled City of Harrar, Ethiopia’s UNESCO-recognized tangible world heritages offer promising investment prospects.

Various tourism investment opportunities are presented around the astonishing Tiya Stones, the captivating Lower Awash’s paleontological treasures, the vibrant Cultural Landscapes of Konso, the mesmerizing beauty of the Lower Omo Valley and its diverse tribes, and the awe-inspiring and majestic peaks of the Semien Mountains National Park. Beyond these tangible marvels lies Ethiopia’s vibrant intangible cultural heritage—holding massive investment potential. Vast investment opportunities await in the impressive Ethiopian Epiphany celebration, the age-old Gada system of governance, the joyous Fichee-Chambalaalla festival, the sacred Commemoration Feast of the True Holy Cross of Christ, and the vibrant Ashenda festival.

Ethiopia’s rich Islamic heritage also stands as the oldest on the African continent. With remarkable historical sites like the Nejashi Mosque, dating back to the 7th Century and the tomb of the first and second Hijra migrants

The Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism reveals the country’s historical and religious treasures. These ancient World Heritage Books include the Four Gospels/Bible from the 14th Century, St. Paul’s Epistles from the 15th Century, the Homily of the Passion of Our Lord, and the Services for Passion Week from the 15th Century, the sacred Book of Enoch from the 15th Century, the Psalterium Davids from the 16th Century, and the Letters from Ethiopian Kings to British Queens from the 19th Century Addis Ababa, the vibrant capital of Ethiopia and the epicentre of African diplomacy, has the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commissions for Africa (ECA) headquartered here, along with numerous embassies and international organizations. The city offers a strategic location for investment ventures

INSIGHTS & FIGURES: ON ETHIOPIA’S TOURISM INDUSTRY

In Ethiopia, the Tourism sector is among the high export income generating economic activities with the transfer of external funds and employing a significant number of workforces. According to World Travel and Tourism Council’s 2022 annual research, the growth of Travel & Tourism in Ethiopia was primarily propelled by international visitors spending.

In 2021, International travellers accounted for 72% of the total Travel & Tourism expenditure, while domestic travel contributed 28%. From the 622 thousand total vistors, in 2021, the Ethiopia’s travel and Tourism sector saw significant contributions from leisure and business travelers. Business travelers accounted for 54% of the sector’s spending, while leisure travelers contributed the remaining portion.

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, the tourism industry made a substantial impact on the Ethiopian economy, contributing USD 4,229.7 million in 2021. This marked a 32.7% increase compared to the previous year. Further, the revenue from the sector constituted 34.3% of the total exports. In terms of the country’s overall GDP, the Ethiopian travel and tourism industry represented 5% in 2021.

Tourism’s economic activity also played a crucial role in employment, supporting 1.56 million jobs, which accounted for 2.9% of total employment.. Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, the tourism sector demonstrated a notable growth rate of 4.5% in its contribution to employment between 2020 and 2021. This positive trend reflects the resilience of the sector and its ability to generate significant job opportunities.

UNDERSTANDING MARKET DEMAND

The Ethiopian Tourism ecosystem offers a diverse range of opportunities and attractions, including rich cultural and historical sites. Some of the demand indicators for the Tourism sector include the following

1. POST-PANDEMIC INCREASE IN TOURIST ARRIVALS & RECEIPTS

Following the pandemic-induced slowdown, Ethiopia has experienced a significant rebound in tourist arrivals and receipts, highlighting a revival and growing interest in the country’s tourism sector.

ethiopia tourism sector

2. GROWING HOTEL DEVELOPMENT

Ethiopia, in general, and the city of Addis Ababa, in particular, have been operation centres for more than 13 international hotel chains such as Hilton Addis, Marriot Executive Apartments, Sheraton Addis, Ramada Addis, Radisson Blu and Hyatt Regency to name a few.

According to the latest study by W Hospitality Group, Ethiopia is ranked 4th in terms of new hotel development, with 29 chain hotels and 5,206 rooms in the pipeline. Radisson Blu Hotel, Marriott International, Accor and Hilton are among the major brands expected to increase their presence in the country. Ethiopia has been in the top five countries on the list for the past six years.

As a result of the various upcoming star-designated hotels and speciality restaurants, the country’s capital, Addis Ababa, maintained the top three ranking for cities with large numbers of hotels and rooms planned in Africa for three consecutive years, following renowned tourist cities like Cairo.

Besides Addis Ababa, cities such as Dire Dawa, Bishoftu, Hawassa, Bahir Dar, Arba Minch, Gondar, and Adama have also seen remarkable hotel investment projects. These investments encompass luxurious hotels and resorts extending their services and footprint throughout the country. Notable mentions include Haile Resorts and Kuriftu Hotel and Spa.

ethiopia tourism sector

3. Expanding growth opportunities & market potential

Investors should consider targeting the Ethiopian tourism market due to the growth in various segments

  • Tour Operations

Tourist guides, travel agents, and tour operators offer promising opportunities. For instance, the booking market is expected to grow significantly. Targeting stopover tourists and business (MICE) tourists can lead to business growth. Providing integrated travel packages and creating a well-rounded experience can enhance revenue per passenger and attract more visitors.

  • Vacation Rentals

Accommodation-sharing platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo have disrupted the traditional hotel industry. The global vacation rental market is projected to reach USD 107.70 billion by 2027.

In Ethiopia, the vacation rental segment is expected to generate USD 334.70 million revenue in 2023, growing at an annual rate of 5.47%. There is a demand for localized and coordinated experiences, creating opportunities for specialized shared accommodation platforms.

Ethiopia’s campsites segment, especially in the southern region, offers investment opportunities in camping, lodges, and resorts. The camping sector is expected to generate USD 5.24 million revenue in 2023, growing at an annual rate of 46.85%.

The Simien Mountains National Park, Bale Mountains National Park, and Mount Yossef are already positioned as world-class destinations for high-altitude trekking, but there is a need to enhance tourism facilities and services, including expanded and upgraded camping sites.

  • Tourism Tech Startups

Investing in Tourism tech startups can bring positive outcomes, as technology plays a vital role in ensuring a secure and smooth travel experience. Initiatives like 1888EC are actively developing digital solutions and fostering job creation within Ethiopia’s tourism industry.

Promising markets for Tourism tech startups encompass alternative housing, hotel and hospitality management, artificial intelligence, tours and activities, as well as diverse mobility sectors.

Overall, the growth in these tourism segments, coupled with the need for localized experiences, upgraded facilities, and technological advancements, makes Ethiopia an attractive market for investors.

4. Growth in MICE/ conference Tourism

The MICE market (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences/Congresses, Events/Exhibitions) has become an increasingly important segment of the Tourism industry. Third, only to Brussels and Washington DC, Addis Ababa is home to 118 diplomatic missions accredited by the government of Ethiopia, the AU and the UNECA. As a result, the country hosts multiple international meetings and conferences every year.

The 2022 Annual Research Key Highlights from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) indicate that there has been an increase in business spending in Ethiopia during 2021 compared to 2019. This rise suggests a growing demand for services from business travellers and highlights the sector’s expanding contribution to the country and the country’s potential not only as a leisure but also as a business destination.

5. Future Forecast

Forecasts for the Ethiopian Tourism sector are optimistic about its future development. All tourism segments are displaying encouraging growth rates, with camping leading the way at a remarkable 46.85% increase, reflecting the anticipated interest of tourists in Ecotourism and adventure experiences through camping.

With its abundance of national parks, wildlife reserves, and mountainous terrain, Ethiopia possesses immense potential in the Tourism industry that remains untapped.

WHY INVEST IN ETHIOPIA?

SUMMARY OF ADVANTAGES

  • Strategic geographic location in East Africa

A gateway to the region with easy access to neighbouring countries and a key transportation and logistics hub connecting Africa, Asia, and Europe

  • Multiple UNESCO registered heritage sites

The country is home to 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ranked 2nd in Africa.

  • Addis Ababa, a significant diplomatic and political hub

Home to AU, ECA, and 115 foreign missions, making it the third-highest globally in terms of diplomatic presence.

  • Ethiopian Airlines: Africa’s top carrier

Serving 131 international passenger and cargo destinations, including 63 African cities, flying to more destinations in the continent more than any other airline.

  • Market ready product offers including meeting venues and hotels

More than 600 hotels with more than 13 chain hotels and more in the pipeline. World-class large conference venues at the AU, UNECA, and AAICEC

  • Secure country with World Trade and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safety and Security stamp (2021)

In 2021 the country has received WTTC’s Safety and Security stamp, indicating that the country follows global standards to ensure the well-being of tourists and visitors.

  • Tourism is one of the priority sectors that the Ethiopian government granted tax exemption & incentives

Specific details of the tax exemptions and incentives can be seen in the next section

  • One stop shop service delivery for investors by the Ethiopian Investmen Commission

EIC facilitates investment procedures, offers guidance, and assists investors in navigating the business landscape in Ethiopia.

  • Simple E-visa application and nearly 40 visa on arrival eligible countries
  • Continuing efforts to digitalize the travel & hospitality industries to increase convenience & competitiveness

EXPLORING ETHIOPIA’S DIVERSE: AREAS OF TOURISM

Ethiopia, a land of remarkable beauty and cultural heritage, has garnered international recognition and attention from organizations such as the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and UNESCO. With the tourism sector contributing significantly to the country’s GDP and projected to grow rapidly, Ethiopia presents attractive investment opportunities. As one of the fastest-growing economies and strategically located as Africa’s gateway, Ethiopia offers a vast market.

Cultural and historical Tourism

UNESCO’s recognition of Ethiopia’s historical sites as World Heritage Sites underscores the long-term value of preserving and showcasing these treasures with a rewarding return on investment Investment opportunities

Adventure Tourism

With its diverse landscapes, rugged mountains, stunning waterfalls, and unique wildlife, Ethiopia provides an ideal setting for adventure enthusiasts. The potential for revenue generation is significant as adventure tourism continues to gain popularity.

Investment opportunities

Rural Tourism

With the growing demand for sustainable and off-the-beaten-path experiences, investing in rural tourism not only supports rural communities but also generates revenue and preserves traditional ways of life Investment opportunities

MICE Tourism

With a growing demand for hosting international conferences and events, Ethiopia provides an ideal destination that combines modern facilities, unique cultural experiences, and a strategic location. Investment opportunities

Stopover Tourism

With its strategic geographic location and world-class airports, Ethiopia offers a unique stopover experience with diverse attractions, cultural heritage, and warm hospitality. The potential for revenue generation is significant as stopover tourism continues to rise.

Sports Tourism

From the high-altitude training grounds in the Ethiopian Highlands to the biggest road race in Africa, the Great Ethiopian Run, Ethiopia provides a unique experience for sports tourism investment.

Halal Tourism

With the increasing global demand for Muslim-friendly travel experiences, Ethiopia offers a wealth of attractions, halal-certified services, and a welcoming environment for Muslim travelers.

With its rich biodiversity, breathtaking landscapes, and commitment to conservation, Ethiopia is an ideal destination. The demand for eco-friendly experiences is on the rise, ensuring the generation of revenue and supporting local communities.

Geotourism focuses on the understanding and appreciation of Earth’s geological features, such as volcanoes, rock formations, hot springs, and fossil sites. With its diverse geological history and significant geological sites, Ethiopia

LEGAL PROCEDURES

An overview of Ethiopia’s legal procedure

LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS

NATIONAL SECTORAL PLANS & STRATEGIES

Ethiopia recognizes the potential of its rich tourist sites but acknowledges the need to generate more income from the sector. To address this, the country has given special attention to the Tourism sector in its new ten-year economic development plan, alongside Agriculture, Manufacturing, Mining, and ICT sectors.

Specific projects, and initiatives such as Gorgora, Koysha, Wenchi, and the Beautifying Sheger urban site project have been launched to enhance Tourism prospects and generate higher returns for stakeholders. Furthermore, regional states have launched dedicated websites and service packages to boost Tourism in their respective areas.

The goal is for Tourism to become one of the top contributors to economic growth. To achieve this, Ethiopia has implemented various strategies and initiatives.

Through these concentrated efforts, Ethiopia strives to fully leverage its Tourism sector, attract more visitors, and maximize its economic benefits.

ethiopia tourism sector

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Businesses in the Tourism sector, such as tour and travel agencies, hotels, and accommodation operations, need to acquire Investment, Business, and Competence Certificates.

Investment activities eligible for Tourism sector incentives include duty-free importation of capital goods, construction materials, spare parts (up to 15% value of capital goods), and limited types and numbers of vehicles. These incentives apply to star-designated hotels, motels, lodges, restaurants, and tour operations. The essential service processes an investor goes through are outlined on the next page.

Ethiopian investment law specifies the Tourism sectors that are reserved for domestic investors and open to foreign investors.

ethiopia tourism sector

LICENSING PROCESS FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS

ethiopia tourism sector

KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN TOURISM INVESTMENT

ethiopia tourism sector

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Boosting Tourism to Catalyze Ethiopia’s Development

May 20, 2019.

Ethiopia is set to tap into its immense tourism potential in order to become  one of Africa’s top five tourist destinations by 2020 .

The country already boasts  nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites  as well as unspoilt landscapes, diverse and distinctive wildlife including colourful birdlife, and has now established two entities to help it unlock the vast potential of its tourism sector.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn the government set up the Ethiopian Tourism Transformation Council and the Ethiopian Tourism Organisation (ETO) to help the country use its tourism potential to boost the country’s economic growth, promote inclusive development and ensure environmental sustainability.

The Ethiopian Tourism Council provides leadership and strategic guidance for the ETO, which will act as the Council’s secretariat and implementing body.

The ETO was officially launched on 1 July 2014 by the  Ministry of Tourism and Culture , with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“We have a lot of hard work ahead of us but the strategic thinking behind the setup of the Tourism Transformation Council and the Ethiopian Tourism Organisation means that Ethiopia is heading in the right direction,”  said UNDP Resident Representative Eugene Owusu . UNDP is partnering with ETO as a strong advocate of sustainable tourism development in Ethiopia. Mr. Owusu stressed that, “For Ethiopia to fully benefit from its vast tourism potential to support economic growth, to alleviate poverty and to protect the natural heritage, the country needs to prioritize and overcome some fundamental challenges.

ETO will work to address the key challenges within the tourism sector. These include the shortage of skilled manpower in the tourism sector, the limited number of first-class hotels (particularly in major tourist destinations), inadequate investments in destination development, including major national parks and heritage sites. The ETO will also focus on marketing Ethiopia as a top tourism destination by designing strategies and programmes aimed at scaling up tourism product development.

Ethiopia’s Tourism and Culture Minister,   H.E. Amin Abdulkadir   emphasised the importance of partnership, and the need to pull together the government, private sector, and the development partners to support the ETO and help it to transform the tourism sector in Ethiopia. “I hope we can work hand-in-hand to improve the sector and turn Ethiopian into one of the top tourist destination in Africa,” he told guests at the ETO launch ceremony.

UNDP’s support to the ETO is part of its ongoing engagement in transformative initiatives which seek to  catalyse development in Ethiopia. In recent years, UNDP supported the design and establishment of the  Agricultural Transformation Agenc y and the  Ethiopian Commodity Exchange . UNDP will build on these lessons and using its global network ensure that the ETO has access to proven knowledge and technologies in tourism development. UNDP will also partner with various government partners to help the ETO in a number of key areas, including strengthening its leadership and technical and policy advisory capacity. Support will also be provided to the ETO as it develops national plans, boost its implementation capacity for tourism development, improves  tourism marketing, and promotes investments to the sector.

With the introduction of the ETO and Tourism Transformation Council, Ethiopia is well-situated to leverage its enormous tourism potential through cohesive tourism development that creates new jobs and stimulates investments, expand the market for its goods and services, helps diversity the country’s revenue base and bring it closer to its goal of reaching middle income status by 2025.

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Ethiopia’s hotel industry needs help to encourage tourism

ethiopia tourism sector

Lecturer, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Disclosure statement

Orthodox Tefera does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Kwa-Zulu Natal provides funding as a partner of The Conversation AFRICA.

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ethiopia tourism sector

The global tourism industry has huge economic importance. It contributes 10% of the world’s gross domestic product and 6% of exports. One billion people a year travel somewhere in the world.

Africa’s natural and cultural points of interest give the continent tremendous tourism potential. This shows in the numbers . In 2015, the sector generated USD$ 36 billion in Africa (7% of all exports in the region), up from USD$ 10 billion in 2000. Travel and tourism also directly supports 466,000 jobs. It’s expected that by 2030 the number of tourists will reach 134 million annually.

But African countries’ tourism industries are often constrained by a lack of infrastructure development, air connectivity and financing.

Ethiopia, in East Africa, is an example. The country has immense natural, cultural and historical attractions, but is a largely untapped tourism market. It suffers from a lack of infrastructure and the negative publicity the country received after the famine in the 1980s and various conflicts. It needs to make a big effort to market its potential and develop the measures to support the industry.

Ethiopia’s tourism sector showed a steady increase in the last decade. International tourist arrivals rose from 64,000 in 1990 to 680,000 in 2013 and are expected to reach 815,000 by 2024. This 2024 figure would mean a contribution of USD$2 billion to the country’s GDP. Over the next five years the sector is expected to create over a million jobs, or 3.6% of total employment.

Comfortable hotels play a vital role in attracting tourists. After the fall of the communist government 27 years ago, Ethiopia started privatising most of the state owned hotels and tourism establishments. To support this, the government adopted a policy that allows duty-free imports of hotel furniture, fixtures and equipment. It also provides for favourable loans to investors for the construction of new rated hotels.

But, while the hotel industry is growing, the number of available hotel rooms is still the lowest. In terms of room availability, Ethiopia is globally ranked 134 out of 140, compared to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania at positions 122, 121 and 118 respectively. Furthermore, there are few hotels of an international standard, and many are old and unattractive. Infrastructure to support the hotels is lacking. There are no zoning policies to establish the areas where hotels should be constructed, or tourist activities to complement them when they are built.

Hotel performance

Until recently , Ethiopia did not have enough hotels recognised under international rankings or ratings – they generously awarded themselves their own stars. This made it hard for visitors to judge the quality of a hotel. This changed in 2015 when the Ethiopian government, with the help of World Tourism Organisation, started rating hotels in the country. Though participation in the grading process is mandatory, the graded hotels still haven’t undergone annual audits to ensure they’re keeping up with the standard they were awarded.

Ethiopia also only has six internationally branded and managed hotels. This is a very low figure bearing in mind that the average number of tourists per year is nearly 700,000 and these six hotels have a combined total of less than 1,500 rooms. By comparison, Nairobi in neighbouring Kenya already hosts most of the international hotel brands – and expects 13 more to open their doors over the next five years.

There are also only three five star hotels in Ethiopia and the majority of the “rated” hotels which guarantee a certain standard of service are situated in the capital, Addis Ababa. Other hotels, rated only by online travel agents based on the guests’ comments and with fewer than 100 rooms, are scattered throughout major towns. This is a problem because most of the tourist attractions are located in the countryside. There is also a scarcity of budget facilities, like youth hostels, to cater for budget travellers and backpackers.

Another major issue is the hotel structures. After the fall of the communist regime, from 1995, Ethiopia started privatising. Over 287 enterprises were transferred from the public to the private sector – out of which 34, or 11.8%, were hotels. The aim was to improve economic efficiency, stimulate the private sector and mobilise more foreign and domestic investment. However, the process has been weighed down with problems which include ; corruption, loss of jobs and a lack of ownership and transparency. The state retains control of many of the most valuable assets in the sector. These are not well maintained, as they are about to be privatised. For example, Addis Ababa’s Hilton hotel, completed in 1987, now needs urgent refurbishment.

Finally, the hotel industry needs to be supported by tourism infrastructure. It needs physical facilities like car parks, sewerage and water works, transport projects and roads. These have to be based on zoning policies, to establish where the hotels should be built. With the exception of Addis Ababa, there are also hardly any offerings of recreational or entertainment activities like parks, concerts or cinemas. And there are logistical gaps like the lack of adequate ATM machines and foreign exchange bureaus outside Addis Ababa. This means visitors need to carry large amounts of cash in local currency, which is inconvenient and unsafe.

To spur tourism growth and development, Ethiopia must improve the hotel industry and the infrastructure that supports it. It will take the cooperation of all stakeholders – government, hotel professionals, hotel owners and hotel trade associations – to achieve a competitive and sustainable sector.

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https://visitethiopia.travel/

Welcome to Ethiopia, Land of Origins

Ethiopia invites you to discover why it is the origin of so much!  As you explore Ethiopia, you will be put in touch with your own origins…for this is a Land of Origins

Things to do in Ethiopia

Ethiopia cultural-experience

Cultural Experiences – Culturally ebullient but not well discovered, every unforgettable undertaking you do in Ethiopia could be labeled as a cultural experience.

Ethiopia bird-watching

Nature Experiences – with its diverse ecological systems laden with a plethora of wildlife Ethiopia is a haven for nature travelers

Ethiopia adventure-and-trekking

Outdoor and adventure  – Outdoor and adventure are the eliciting factors that whet the appetite of all travelers to Ethiopia.

Ethiopia learning-tours

Educational Tour –  Immerse yourself in the rich paleontological sites, vibrant way of life, and opulent geological resources of Ethiopia.

ethiopia tourism sector

Trekking on the peaks of Ethiopia

The majestic highlands of Ethiopia offer some exceptional trekking experiences. The Simien Mountains and Bale Mountains are common favorites, and the Community Trekking trails set up in the Northern part of Ethiopia offer world-class treks while supporting local communities.

The most popular attractions to visit in your lifetime

ethiopia tourism sector

Aksum – Land of Queen Sheba

Lalibela

The rock hewen churches of Lalibela

Gondar Fasil Castle

Gondar – Camelot of Africa

Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town

Harar – The old walled city

ethiopia tourism sector

Renowned the world over for its decorated tribes, the Omo Valley is a stop on many a tourist route in Ethiopia.

ethiopia tourism sector

Gheralta Mountains –  The luminous light bathes scattered sharp peaks that rise into the sky out of a sandy, rolling semi-desert.

ethiopia tourism sector

Salt caravans of the Danakil depression

Embarque em uma jornada emocionante e descubra prêmios incríveis no Cassino Jogo Fortune Tiger. A sorte está ao seu alcance em jogofortunetiger.com.br !

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Lessons From Ethiopia’s Post-War Tourism Recovery

Dawit Habtemariam

Dawit Habtemariam , Skift

January 27th, 2023 at 11:10 AM EST

The civil war is over, but Western government travel warnings are still there. If there's going to be a recovery, tourism authorities need to focus their energy on getting those lifted. That's going to require repeated messaging that the war is over.

Dawit Habtemariam

Ethiopia’s tourism sector has been hit hard in the last two years by Covid and a brutal civil war, with spending down by more than $2 billion. The tourist sites and infrastructure have been spared, but the sector doesn’t have the confidence of governments, travelers and tour group operators that the conflict is over and the country is a safe destination.

For two years, Ethiopia has had an ethnic civil war largely fought between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea. It started in November 2020 when the Ethiopian government sent troops into the northern Tigray region after prime minister Abiy Ahmed accused the TPLF of attacking a military base. The war was mostly concentrated in Tigray but did spill into parts of other regions like Amhara. 

The conflict may have led to over 600,000 lives lost, according to the Financial Times . Millions of people have been displaced . The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights have accused Tigrayan forces of committing war crimes and “human rights abuses” and the Ethiopian government of committing “crimes against humanity.“

In November, the Tigrayan rebels and the Ethiopian government signed a peace deal to end hostilities.

Before the horrific war and the pandemic, the country drew over 800,000 tourists and spending amounted to $3.5 billion in 2019, according to the World Bank . A growing segment of tourists have been from the U.S., UK and Europe, according to Intrepid Travel East African General Manager Samuel Karani.

Popularity was rising so much that some of the country’s beautiful natural parks, churches, mountains and historic sites experienced overtourism. Visitation to the Gheralta mountains, for example, was becoming popular to the point that some of the historic churches experienced overcrowding, according to Mark Chapman, founder of Tesfa Tours , which has operated in Ethiopia since 2010.

In 2020, visitation dropped to 500,000 and spending fell by 35 percent to $2.28 billion, according to the World Bank. In the last two years, the country lost $2 billion thanks to the war and Covid, Ethiopia Tourism State Minister Sileshi Girma told Voice of America .

“A lot of tour operators stopped operating because nobody was earning any money,” said Chapman. “It was hard to survive these few years and keep paying overhead.”

The war prolonged any hopes of the return of tour groups since Covid. In March 2022, Intrepid Travel decided to hold off on offering tours even though traveler interest had resumed. Their tourist destinations and routes they used were “unready” and the war hadn’t settled down, said Karani.

Tourist sites and attractions are typically not spared in conflicts. The historic architecture of Aleppo suffered massive destruction during the Syrian Civil War. 

Fortunately for Ethiopia, popular tourist sites like Lalibela that were caught in the conflict have been spared. Lalibela, a holy site in Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, is home to 900 year old rock-hewn churches. The churches attract over 80,000 visitors per year and are a UNESCO World Heritage site .

Lalibela was occupied by Tigrayan rebels from early August to mid-December 2021. The government lost control again for a few days in December then regained it . The physical damage to the town’s large tourist infrastructure left behind hasn’t been long lasting. “The churches haven’t been damaged, thank God, and 90 percent of hotels were pretty much okay, “ said Chapman. On January 7, the town hosted thousands of visitors for the festival of Genna, which is also known as Ethiopian Christmas. Ethiopia Tourism State Minister Sileshi Girma brought ambassadors from several countries to the festival.

@rrymmee Lalibela is next level and u should go there ! #lalibela #eastaftica #ethiopia #travelethiopia ♬ Lalibela – Gossaye Tesfaye

Individual travelers are returning, but there are still virtually no tour groups, said Chapman. “It’s tour groups that are the big business for most tour operators and hotels,” he said. He expects some to start returning before the end of the year.

Intrepid will have its first post-Covid trip to Ethiopia in September this year and the itinerary will include the Tigray region, according to Karani. It will offer the same activities it had in 2019, one of which will be visiting the historic city of Axum, located in Tigray.

At the moment, Western governments continue to discourage travel to the country. The U.S. State Travel Advisory warns American citizens to reconsider travel to Ethiopia and to not travel to the Tigray and Amhara regions. The UK warns its citizens to stay away from Tigray.

The warnings introduce traveler insurance coverage issues, which deters traveler and group trips, according to Karani and Chapman. Major tourist attractions become unavailable for visits. “The British government travel advice says don’t go within 30 kilometers of the border of Tigray and that rules out parts of the [Simien] national park,” said Chapman.

Intrepid Travel and their partners are hopeful the second half of the year will see normalcy, but they are watching how the peace deal plays out.  “Five months before September we will be reviewing the situation again,” Karani said.

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Tags: africa , coronavirus recovery , Covid , ethiopia , travel warning

Photo credit: Lalibela is one of Ethiopia's most popular destinations. The town was briefly occupied by Tigrayan rebels. Mulugeta Wolde / Unsplash

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

  • 23 Jul 2014

Ethiopia - tourism key to promote development

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PR No. : PR 14051

During an official visit to Ethiopia, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, met with President Mulatu Teshome, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen , and Minister of Culture & Tourism, Amin Abdulkadir, to address the advancement of tourism in Ethiopia and the key role of the sector in the country’s socio-economic development. (Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, 13-18 July 2014).

These measures reflect how tourism is firmly established among the development drivers of the country, said President Mulatu in a meeting with Mr. Rifai, where he expressed his full support to the tourism sector, and the commitment of the Ethiopian government to make sustainability a priority in future tourism development.

“Ethiopia is endowed with rich historical relics which, combined with the hospitality of our people, make it viable for tourism. The government has lined up abled professionals to work within the industry and there is the right political will in place to contribute towards tourism”, said President Mulatu.

Mr. Rifai commended Ethiopia for the political support awarded to the tourism sector and in particular for integrating tourism as part of its development policy. “Tourism is a key tool to lift people out of poverty and create new opportunities”, he said. “The steps being taken by Ethiopia, namely enhancing the protection and conservation of tourist attractions, expanding the tourism infrastructure, establishing a tourism marketing organization and a national tourism council as well as increasing education and training institutions in the field of tourism, will surely make tourism a pillar of the development of Ethiopia”, he added.

During his official visit, Mr. Rifai also met with Prime Minister Desalegn, who, on the occasion of The High Level Seminar on Tourism Industry, was presented the UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on Travel and Tourism, calling on Heads of States and Government to “promote the value of the tourism sector in advancing sustainable tourism development”.

“The Tourism Transformation Council aims to build on Ethiopia’s natural, historical and cultural resources to strengthen the tourism sector, identify pressing value-chain gaps and intervening to allay these gaps based on tangible and scientific studies jointly with the private sector and the international tourism community. Together, we will work hand in hand to make tourism one of the leading economic sectors of our country and Ethiopia a top destination in Africa”, said Mr. Desalegn.

UNWTO and Ethiopia have agreed to reinforce their collaboration in the areas of tourism statistics, sustainable tourism development, public-private partnerships and marketing strategies, as defined in an agreement signed by Mr. Rifai and the Minister of Tourism and Culture of Ethiopia, Mr. Amin Abdulkadir.

Note to editors:

Africa has been one of the fastest growing tourism regions of the last decade, totaling 56 million international tourist arrivals last year up from 26 million in 2000. UNWTO forecasts this number to reach 134 million by 2030.

In 2013, tourism generated US$ 34 billion in exports in Africa (7% of all exports in the region) up from US$ 10 billion in 2000.

Useful links:

Photo album: Official visit by UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai to Ethiopia 

UNWTO Regional Programme for Africa

Download and share:  Tourism – Driving Trade, Fostering Development and Connecting People 

UNWTO Senior Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 

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From archaeological and heritage sites to conservation parks, and music and cultural festivals, Ethiopia boasts a wide array of tourist attractions. However it lost 70 per cent of tourism revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with massive job losses – a situation that was worsened by the outbreak of war in the north of the country. 

As part of our August Voices tourism series, we’re talking to Tewodros Derbew, strategic team leader and coordinator at the Ministry of Tourism in Ethiopia. He explains the challenges facing the sector, how the country is planning to re-position itself as a major destination through sustainable tourism, and what it means for the world of work.

Hello, and welcome to ILO's Future of Work podcast.

I'm Belinda Japhet, your host for today, and I'm joining you from Tanzania.

Today, we will be looking at how Ethiopia is restructuring its tourism sector

and what opportunities this poses for its people.

Ethiopia boasts a wide array of tourist destinations,

from archaeological and heritage sites, national and conservation parks,

to music and cultural festivals.

Ethiopia is positioning itself as a major tourist destination

and its government has reviewed and updated the country's tourism policy

to reflect this.

The tourism sector is now one of five priority sectors

in the country's 10-year plan and is expected to be

a major source of revenue and employment in the country.

However, there are some obstacles challenging the sector's development.

Today's special guest, Mr. Tewodros Derbew from Ethiopia

has played a key role in updating his country's tourism policy

and sector in general.

Mr. Tewodros is a strategic team leader and coordinator

at the Ministry of Tourism in Ethiopia and he will be updating us

on some of the great developments in his country's tourism sector.

Mr. Tewodros, thank you so much for joining us today, and welcome.

Thank you. It's my pleasure having you and joining this discussion.

It's great to have you, and very timely too as well.

Maybe you could start by introducing yourself to us briefly

and giving us a brief overview of your vast experience working

in Ethiopia's tourism sector.

Okay, thank you. I have been working in the Ethiopian tourism sector

for the last 15 years at different capacities.

I joined the Ministry of Culture and Tourism,

the former federal executive institution, which was tasked to develop

and administer tourism in Ethiopia.

So, I joined as a junior expert and served as a director of tourist services,

competency, and grading directorates,

and then I transferred to the new ministry, that's the Ministry of Tourism,

which is an independent institution tasked to develop Ethiopian tourism

in a competitive and sustainable manner.

Thank you. 15 years is a long time to specialize in a specific sector.

This makes you the perfect person for me to ask this question.

What exactly makes Ethiopia such a unique tourist destination

in the world right now?

Ethiopia. There are some affiliations that may spring into people's mind

when they hear the name Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is a country endowed with marvelous cultural wealth

and stunning natural beauties that can offer seamless experiences

to tourists and provide tourism investors with immense investment opportunities.

Ethiopia is known for ancient history and age-old absorbing traditions.

Ethiopia is home to cultural diversity, hosting more than 80 ethnic groups,

meaning these ethnic groups have their own way of life,

their language, tradition, and customs.

In addition, Ethiopia is also known for spectacular geographic formations

and incredible geological resources.

Our culinary tradition is quite unique and can provide tourists

with immersive experiences.

From farm to fork, we can think of our culinary tradition

as quite an impressive tourism resource.

Moreover, Ethiopia is only beyond imagining.

This has created an opportunity for Ethiopia to promote

in the market diverse resources from the Aksum Stelae,

that's in the Northern part of Ethiopia,

to the miraculously build Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela,

the Medieval Castle of Gondar.

The three are called heritage sites.

Ethiopia with its fabulous history of 3,000 years.

Wow, that is a wide array of attractions.

I’m, actually, quite interested in coming there myself.

It looks like a lot of people would be depending on this sector

for their livelihoods.

Could you tell us who exactly depends on the sector?

The majority of the workforce is the youth and women.

In terms of gender, 30% of the workforce comprises women

and the 70% are men.

There are about 1.5 million people employed in the tourism sector.

Of course, from five-star hotels, high-end facilities

to the low traditional service providers, that's the traditional coffee providers.

More than 60% of the tourism business is operated

by the small and medium enterprises in Ethiopia.

Even there are people who rent mule, especially for trekking

and other adventure-based tourism activities.

More importantly, as Ethiopia is rich in tradition and culture,

there are different kinds of handicraft products.

So, a number of souvenir shops are there.

There are operated mostly by the youth and women.

They're totally more than 1.5 million people are working

in the tourism industry at this and in other parts of the country,

especially at the destinations.

Now, because it's such a big sector,

I'm sure the effects of COVID-19 have been quite great.

How has the tourism sector been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Tourism was heavily stricken by the COVID pandemic because,

as you know, COVID has affected both the supply side and the demand side.

It affected the source market, like Europe and America, Asia,

and also it is a global problem.

Ethiopian tourism has been heavily affected by the COVID pandemic.

If you look at pre pandemic level, 2019, more than $3 billion

was obtained from the tourism industry, but there has been a decline of 72%

since the outbreak of the pandemic.

We lost a huge amount of dollars from the industry

and the volume of tourists has declined by 74%.

You can imagine how big the impact of COVID-19 was.

There was massive loss of jobs, hundreds of thousands of jobs

were at risk, loss of foreign exchange and tourism revenues,

tourism investment has been seriously inhibited,

skill migration for other sectors were also a trade,

investment migration to some extent, and generally,

tourism's contribution to employment and GDP has declined.

By the way, to add an injury to a scar, Ethiopian tourism was not only affected

by the COVID pandemic, but it was also highly affected

by the Northern war in the country.

Tourism has been gravely affected by this two phenomena,

but there is hope at the end of the tunnel.

The government is working to make the sector revive.

The government is working to make the sector recover

and trying to protect jobs created in the sector.

There are sound initiatives that would help to ensure resilience

of the sector in the country.

Could you give us maybe one or two other points

on exactly what the government is doing to help the country

to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?

The first measure the government has taken was access to loan.

The government has tried to provide loans with low-interest rate.

This helped to hotels and similar establishments to retain their staff.

The other one, there are, of course, some support, especially

for vulnerable communities, both material and financial support,

but due to the limited capacity of the government,

it was not as large as it was expected to be.

There were efforts to specially help people protect

from sinking psychologically and physically.

There are this measures.

The Ministry of Tourism designed the recovery plan

which would be implemented for three months.

This basically focuses on stimulating the domestic tourism

sector until international tourism resumes.

You've touched on what the future looks like

for the European tourism sector or what the government

is working towards.

More specifically, what kind of impact do you hope it will have

on the people working in the sector, these structural changes

that the government is making?

Our main focus is our policy initiatives or reform activities

are geared toward improving the quality of life of the communities.

Creating decent and sustainable jobs, generating foreign exchange,

and also, sound use of ecological resources.

We're just moving to ensuring sustainable form of tourism development,

tourism enterprises that would balance the social, cultural, economic,

and environmental impacts of tourism development.

This policies revision basically addresses the issue of community

engagement and benefit.

It would engage and empower the private sector,

not the way we used to think, but in a way that would empower,

that would meaningfully strengthen the private sector.

The role of the government will at the same time be strengthened.

The policy will help us to save jobs.

It would address issues related to operation or generation of new jobs.

It would also improve the overall competitiveness of the tourism sector

in a way that would offer seamless experiences to tourists,

profitable businesses to the tourism business suppliers,

and benefiting the community.

Ensuring of competitive and outcome-based marketing promotion activities

is another area of focus.

Digitalization and innovation across the tourism sector

is also one of the strategic pillars of the policy.

The last one is sustainability, community involvement

for sustainable tourism development.

We need to make sure that people benefit from the tourism activities

and people should obtain the well-deserved benefits

from what they contribute to the tourism sector.

Communities are put up at the epicenter of tourism development

in this policy.

Could you give us maybe a bit more detail on exactly

how Ethiopia's new tourism policy is focusing on sustainability?

Maybe just one area where you're putting down very sustainable routes

where the sector can really thrive in the future.

We would like to develop destinations in a way that would conserve

our resources, that would take into account local culture,

that would take into account the natural setting.

By sustainability,

we mean we'll be developing our resources in a judicious way,

putting the communities at the epicenter of any tourism activity.

The other aspect is tourism businesses.

There would be standards and guidelines for sustainability.

Tourism businesses, generally the private sector, would implement

those standards.

In such standards, we'll be able to create sustainable jobs,

we'll benefit the communities sustainably.

There are, of course, many points that this sustainability would address,

and the policy has given sufficient attention to this strategic issue.

I would assume that young people are interested in working

in the tourism sector in Ethiopia.

What is the government doing to create more skills development

for young people who work in the tourism sector?

In the short term,

the government has designed a program in corporation

with training institutions and both middle-level and higher-level training

institutions to identify knowledge and skill gaps.

Anyway, training programs are being designed to deliver something

that would help the young people to work on the industry.

Of course, given the youth can create opportunities,

can employ themselves,

there are many business opportunities in the sector.

the government is trying to fix the problem by providing

a number of short-term and tailor-made training programs.

In the long run, the government is working on designing

a focused human resource development strategy for tourism.

This strategy would help the industry to feel, especially to balance

the demand for and supply of skilled manpower for tourism.

With regards to the work that ILO is doing with the government of Ethiopia

in this area, what has been the impact of the collaboration

between the government and ILO,

especially under maybe the Global Program on Skills Development

and Lifelong Learning, in creating employment for young people

in the tourism sector?

What have you started seeing the impact of this program

in creating more skills development?

Once ILO started supporting the human resource development,

the skills development aspect, for example,

there are significant improvements in the area of hotel operation,

tour operation, tour guiding, food preparation.

This has been achieved because the curriculums were designed

in cooperation with ILO in a way that would match the expectations

of the industry people.

There are positive results and we strongly hope that ILO

would strengthen partnerships that would help the tourism sector

to produce competitive manpower.

That's great.

Yes, I think you've touched on some very key issues,

especially the issue of practical training being such a perfect fit

for the tourism sector.

How do you think the future of tourism and tourism skill development

will look like in the future both globally and locally in Ethiopia?

There are some key trends that we can understand globally,

the number of young people is growing at an increasing rate,

especially in Ethiopia.

Close to 70% Ethiopia population consists of the youth.

The future of the global tourism industry,

one is the increasing impact of the young population,

and the other one is the digitization, all the digital platforms.

The digital platform has disrupted everything.

It has fundamentally changed the way we conduct business.

It has fundamentally changed the way we promote, we develop destinations.

These two things are interrelated.

If Ethiopia is to survive in the tourism market,

Ethiopia should respond to the needs of the youth, on one hand,

and should also develop its destination in a manner

that would satisfy the emerging needs and preference

of the young population globally, and the same old story

in the area of digitization.

It will continue to be a story of those who are prepared,

those who are not, and those who managed to adopt the change

quickly enough.

Thank you so much, Mr. Tewodros, for your time and thank you

for your insight into the sector and into the sector in Ethiopia and looking forward

to hearing more things about the amazing future that lies ahead

for Ethiopia's tourism sector.

From me, Belinda Japhet,

that's all for today's edition of Future of Work podcast.

Thank you and goodbye.

Find out more

Article: potentials, challenges and economic contributions of tourism resources in the south achefer district, ethiopia, ilo in ethiopia, the future of work in the tourism sector: sustainable and safe recovery and decent work in the context of the covid-19 pandemic (pdf).

Ethiopia’s fragile tourism industry at crucial juncture

Can Ethiopia boost economic growth and eradicate poverty without ruining the very treasure it wants to promote?

[Ethiopian Tourism Organization]

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia –  A small plaque on this tiny deserted hillock deep in the forests of Kaffa, a province in western Ethiopia, bears an inscription in Amharic and English indicating that this is the birthplace of Ethiopia’s gift to the world: Arabica coffee, as locals will also confirm.

The plaque, hidden in the grass of the overgrown vegetation and invasive forest border, symbolises what has long hampered Ethiopia’s tourism industry. Despite a cultural, historical and linguistic identity quite distinct from the rest of Africa, Ethiopia never became a major tourist destination on the continent.

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Where other countries would proclaim the news, beckoning tourists to come, Ethiopia never seemed that bothered by this fact. But this modest attitude is beginning to change.

The wild mountain environment and breathtaking scenery in Ethiopia's Bale mountains attract many visitors [Ethiopian Tourism Organisation] 

In August this year the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism made a bold announcement that it intended to triple foreign visitors to more than 2.5 million by 2020, with an ultimate goal of making Ethiopia a feature in Africa’s Top 5 tourist destinations by 2020.

“Key tourism factors such as easy and fast growing air access, personal safety and local hospitality, rapid economic growth and, above all, fascinating discoveries to be made bode very well for rapid tourism growth,” said Mike Fabricius of South Africa-based The Journey, a tourism consultancy company.

Not everyone, however, is so sure about the wisdom of chasing those numbers.

A woman tethers her camel at a market in the town of Hayk in north central Ethiopia [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera] 

Setting goals for Ethiopia tourism

In 2013, the government established the Ethiopian Tourism Organisation (ETO) – mandated to boost tourism destination development and marketing, and enhance the benefits of tourism in a sustainable and competitive manner. This signalled a decision to take tourism seriously as a means of generating revenue and helping eradicate poverty.

“There are many reasons tourism took a back seat but the number one thing was getting the basic infrastructure in place,” said Solomon Tadesse, the chief executive of ETO. “Now, the government can fully get behind it based on the economic growth of the last 10 years, with the added benefit of how this has also created a good impression with the outside world.”

Tourism in Ethiopia currently generates $2.9bn for the economy each year, close to a million jobs and about 4.5 percent of the gross domestic product, according to the World Bank.

That percentage, however, trails the likes of Rwanda’s 9 percent of GDP, and tourism accounting for about 11 percent of global GDP. In 2013, a travel and tourism competitive index compiled by the World Economic Forum ranked Ethiopia’s tourism industry as 120th globally and 17th in Africa.

“We know we are behind our neighbours and need to run and catch up,” Tadesse said.

Christianity is the largest religion in Ethiopia and its many ancient churches attract tourists and visitors [Ethiopian Tourism Organisation] 

Others within Ethiopia’s tourism industry, however, urge caution, arguing that Ethiopia doesn’t need to think in terms of catching up. It should rather embrace its own unique tourism development model. The numbers game misses the main point, they say.

Greta Iori, a conservation and tourism professional who has worked in Mexico, South Africa and Ethiopia, where she grew up, said Ethiopia in this manner, “could become the No 1 destination on the continent though not only by tourist numbers but for quality of the experience and the uniqueness of the landscape.” 

Ethiopian tourism infrastructure for foreign standards

Most of Ethiopia’s tourism treats – including nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, the most for an African country – are fragile and risk being destroyed by hordes of tourists, Iori noted.

An additional concern is that a too rapid an increase in tourists could also lead to cultural clashes between locals and foreigners, resentment towards tourism for benefiting only the elite few, segregation of local societies, spiralling prices, money grabbing locals and increased crime.

Alleyways painted in various cheerful pastel colours crisscross Ethiopia’s famous walled city of Harar [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera] 

“Generally it’s up-market tourism that works seamlessly, with the cheaper end that gives problems, and at the moment Ethiopia does not know which way to go,” said someone involved in Ethiopian tourism for more than 10 year who asked not to be named, adding that mass tourism for Ethiopia could put its “golden goose in the pot”.

Those holding such concerns hope that Ethiopia takes a more sustainable, lower volume option – compensating lower numbers by selling a higher quality product at a higher price – while tackling the weak operational state of its tourism industry to ensure adequate facilities exist for tourists who respond to new, more proactive marketing.

For now, finding what are in other tourist-bound countries basic facilities – a well-maintained public toilet, a decent camping site, a rest spot with basic catering facilities – typically proves a frustrated endeavour in the likes of Ethiopia’s national parks and on much of its tourist trail.

“Building infrastructure that meets the expectations of foreigners is key, as there is a limit to how much people are willing to rough it,” said Greg Dorey, UK ambassador to Ethiopia.

“But the jury is out on whether it can build up the supporting infrastructure sufficiently well, given the huge obstacles it places in the way of foreign entrepreneurs investing in this sector,” said Dorey.

A young novice monk at Debre Damo monastery, with mountains stretching away towards the border with Eritrea [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera] [-]

Vulnerabilities of a tourism industry

For all the exciting projections and talk of transformative powers, tourism remains a fickle business – especially in Africa.

Kenya, for instance, has seen tourist numbers decline since last year’s terrorist attacks and travel warnings issued by Western governments, resulting in deserted beaches and thousands of hotel rooms unoccupied.

“We’re starting from ground zero, though that’s not a weakness rather an advantage as we have learned from others’ mistakes,” Tadesse says. “Make Ethiopia your travel destination and you’ll never be the quite the same again,” he adds.

A baptism ceremony in Addis Ababa [Ethiopian Tourism Organisation]

Therein probably lies Ethiopian tourism’s greatest strength – there are still so many diverse cultures, landscapes and wildlife to be developed for tourist itineraries: the Simien and Bale Mountains; the forests of the South; the Sof Omar Caves; the Danakil Desert location of Lucy, the oldest and most complete hominid skeleton ever found, lending weight to Ethiopia’s claim as the cradle of humanity.

But while there is hope tourism will benefit the country, with many Ethiopians sorely needing employment, it remains to be seen how Ethiopia will be affected by more and more foreigners flashing wallets. The capital, Addis Ababa, flushed with money and people on the make, is already beginning to make many observers feel wary. 

African Union building in Addis Ababa [Ethiopian Tourism Organisation]

Ethiopia records biggest growth in World Travel and Tourism

Ethiopia’s Travel and Tourism economy grew by 48.6% in 2018 – the largest of any country in the world – according to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) annual review of the economic impact and social importance of the sector.

In 2018, Travel and Tourism contributed $7.4 billion to the country’s economy, an increase of $2.2 billion on 2017. The sector now represents 9.4% of Ethiopia’s total economy.

The Council’s research compares the Travel and Tourism sectors across 185 countries and shows that in 2018 in Ethiopia the sectors:

  • Significantly outpaced the global growth rate of 3.9%, the African growth rate of 5.6%
  • Supported 2.2 million jobs, or 8.3% total employment
  • Was primarily driven by leisure travellers: 79% of the spending was generated by leisure visitors and 21% from business travellers
  • Is strongly weighted towards international travel: 77% of spending came from international travellers and 23% from domestic

Commenting on the numbers, Gloria Guevara, WTTC President and CEO said:

“Ethiopia’s Travel and Tourism boom was one of the great success stories of 2018. This has been driven by the very strong performance of aviation in the country and the development of Addis Ababa as a dynamic and growing regional hub.”

“Travel and Tourism in Ethiopia now accounts for one in every $11 in the entire economy and one in 12 of all jobs. I would like to acknowledge the country’s commitment to the power of Travel and Tourism to drive economic growth, job creation and social enhancement.”

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Assessment of tourism industry in Gondar City, Ethiopia

  • Published: 30 September 2020
  • Volume 87 , pages 1161–1173, ( 2022 )

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  • Tesfa Regassa Maayii 1 &
  • Zheng Xin 1 , 2  

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As a service sector, tourism played a significant role in changing the image of a country, improving and facilitating economic growth and development. The tourism sector in Ethiopia is at its early stage. It has become necessary to pay special attention and a thorough analysis of the number of local and international tourist arrival and revenue. Accordingly, the assessment of revenue and tourist flow is important to understand the trend in the tourism industry. Our study area is the Gondar city. We collected the data from 2003 to 2018 on local and international tourist arrival, and revenue generated from Gondar city administrative culture and tourism bureau. Customer satisfaction data on thirteen hotels located in Gondar city was collected from the available online database. We selected ms excel 2007 and SPSS 25 for descriptive statistical analysis and data preparation. Our result shows a relatively increasing trend in both local tourist arrival and revenue except in 2006 and from 2014 to2017. The increase in the number of local and International tourist arrival does not accompanied by simultaneously increase in the revenue. Rather it showed up and downtrends during the study period. Hotel satisfaction concerning cleanness ranked higher for all evaluated hotels. The availability of free internet access ranked low except for one hotel. Though the number of tourist flow to Gondar city seems high, the revenue generated was insignificant. For better competitiveness and to increase the income from tourism industry improvement of tourism service and facilities like transportation infrastructure is required.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to Gondar city administrative culture and tourism bureau for providing well organized data on tourist flow and revenue.

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Ethiopian Monitor

Daily News from Ethiopia

ethiopia tourism sector

Recent Reforms to Propel Ethiopia’s Tourism Industry, says New Report

ADDIS ABEBA – Ethiopian government reforms will drive the east African nation’s tourism industry In the Long run, says JLL, one of the world’s leading real estate investment and advisory firms.

The firm released its latest report that gives an overview of the hotel industry on Monday.

As of March 2020, international arrivals in Ethiopia decreased by 35.5% year-on-year to 118,950, according to the report.

JLL attributed the drop to decreased flights, as well as cancellations by Ethiopian Airlines, which flies to over 80 destinations worldwide from Addis Ababa.

– High Potential  – 

The report, however, says the country’s tourism sector shows tremendous potential for growth given it is home to nine world heritage sites, as well as government measures to improve the investment landscape.

This includes relaxed visa policies, enabling nationals as well as residents from the African Union to obtain visa’s on arrival, which saw the Africa Visa Index go up by 32 places to secure a top 20 position in 2019.

With a population of over 110 million, Ethiopia is said to have one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa.

It has experienced strong economic growth and is undergoing rapid political reforms as a result of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s initiatives for international cooperation, including historic peace with neighboring Eritrea.

In addition, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved $2.9 billion to finance Ethiopia’s Home Grown Economic Reform program, which aims to alleviate challenges faced by the economy.

According to the report, these events have provided tailwinds that are expected to benefit the hotel sector, in particular.

“With domestic tourism likely to recover first following the pandemic, Ethiopia should tap into the domestic and regional market as a short-term solution to revive its tourism industry,” said David Desta, Associate, JLL Hotels and Hospitality group.

“With poor hotel infrastructure in major tourist destinations throughout the country, there are opportunities to develop hotels and lodges in these areas to attract domestic and international travelers,” David said.

– COVID-19 Impact –

The report also highlights that Addis Ababa will likely see an increase in corporate, NGO and diplomatic demand over the next few years.

The East African nation currently has upward of 21 internationally branded hotels under development which in theory could add around 4,300 rooms.

But their work has been impacted by the coronavirus crisis, according to Wayne Godwin, Head of Hotel Advisory, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group.

“The impact of COVID-19 in Addis Ababa has seen 88% of hotels either full or partially closed and the market will take some time to recover,” Wayne said.

He said the opening up of the economy represents the most significant opportunity to fuel this recovery.

It “would increase the number of multinationals that are based in the country, and in doing so increase hotel demand,” said Head of Hotel Advisory.

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Ethiopia’s tourism sector to benefit from the country’s first travel and leisure platform

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (February 3, 2021) – Today, startup studio 1888EC announced a partnership with the Mastercard Foundation to create the country’s first travel and leisure platform aimed at creating digital solutions and job opportunities within Ethiopia’s tourism sector.

1888EC, a unique and innovative startup studio established through the partnership, is the first-of-its-kind in Ethiopia. The studio aspires to create disruptive innovators and change-makers and will champion digital transformation, venture building, and job creation.

1888EC recognizes that a significant part of Ethiopia’s economy is dependent upon travel, tourism, leisure, and hospitality. The newly-formed studio’s pilot project will be a digital platform that provides tourists with a myriad of options to explore and experience the “Land of Origins”.

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Its features and services will include access to verified tour guides, accommodation bookings, a best local attraction locator, local experience offerings, and many more options for travelers. The platform will showcase a diverse pool of vendors, including travel and tour service providers, vetted and trained drivers, tour guides, translators, and even local experience buddies. The platform will curate from existing service providers as well as onboard and train new providers. It will also recruit freelancers and train them to provide quality customer service.

“Despite recent challenges, the tourism and hospitality sector holds significant potential to drive the creation of work opportunities. The platform, with a special focus on boosting MICE tourism – meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions – will play a part in unlocking that potential and ensuring that benefits ultimately accrue to young people across Ethiopia and beyond,” said Alemayehu Konde Koira, Country Head, Ethiopia, Mastercard Foundation.

1888EC’s mission is to cultivate an ecosystem that will increase access and use of technology, while promoting job creation led by startups, entrepreneurs, and collaborative efforts with global partners.

“The partnership with the Mastercard Foundation – to develop and pilot digital solutions is a crucial step towards empowering young people, fostering entrepreneurship, and supporting job growth in Ethiopia –  is enabled by digital transformation and the digital economy. We have a vision to play a significant role in building the startup ecosystem as well as leading the way on how to leverage emerging digital innovation to spur radical digital transformation and boost job creation in the tourism sector,” said Solomon Kassa, Founder of 1888EC.

1888EC will support young entrepreneurs to build their companies from the ground up. The objective of the studio is to guide young entrepreneurs who do not have the experience or knowledge of how to run a business. This will inherently mitigate and by-pass the risks young people would experience if they were to establish a company on their own. This will ensure young people are able to remain committed to their dream of entrepreneurship, and in turn, provide them with much needed business development support.

“The tourism and travel industry is a key development area for Ethiopia yet it has been hit the hardest from the COVID-19 pandemic. The residual effects of this global crisis translate to a slow and long recovery ahead in this industry and 1888EC is coming in at a critical time to accelerate this process. Ushering in a digitally-enabled tourism platform, will fuel job creation, expand access to services, enhance consumer information, and position the nation to a higher acceleration in the digital transformation domain,” said Kidist Tesfaye, Start-up Consultant and Social Entrepreneur.

*1888EC will release calls for partnerships and applications once the prototype has been developed and tested over the next few months.   

About 1888EC

Founded by Solomon Kassa (TV Personality, tech strategist, author & public speaker), 1888EC is a unique and innovative startup studio in Ethiopia. 1888EC aspires to create disruptive innovators and change-makers that will champion digital transformation, venture building, and job creation. As a place to cultivate the next generation of tech startup warriors, 1888EC refers to the date of the victorious Battle of Adwa on the Ethiopian Calendar (EC). Our motto, “Victory Re-imagined!” symbolizes the victory we want to re-imagine against poverty by empowering young entrepreneurs to improve the lives of many through tech-based solutions to everyday problems. For more information, please visit: www.1888.studio

Solomon Kassa | [email protected] | Tel.: +1 202 203 8004

About the Mastercard Foundation

Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work.

It is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world.

The Foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management.

For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org

Helen White | [email protected] | Tel.: +27 76 166 5372

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What is the tourism sector in Ethiopia?

geographic-faq

The tourism sector in Ethiopia plays a crucial role in the country’s economy. It contributes significantly to the GDP and provides employment opportunities for millions of people. However, the sector has faced significant challenges due to the impact of COVID-19 and the global economic recession.

What is the current status of tourism in Ethiopia?

Tourism in Ethiopia has been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the country recorded a total of 518,000 tourists, ranking 98th in the world in terms of absolute numbers. However, compared to larger countries, Ethiopia’s performance in terms of the absolute number of tourists is relatively low.

Does Ethiopia have a lot of tourism?

Ethiopia is a country with a rich cultural heritage, stunning natural scenery, and diverse wildlife, making it an attractive destination for tourists. The government has been making efforts to attract more visitors and establish Ethiopia as a top tourist destination in Africa.

What are the potential tourism in Ethiopia?

Ethiopia has a wide range of potential tourism attractions, including historical monuments, archeological sites, religious buildings, museums, festivals, indigenous architecture, artifacts, and handicrafts. These attractions not only showcase the country’s cultural heritage but also provide intangible experiences such as fantasy, nostalgia, pleasure, and pride.

How many types of tourism are there in Ethiopia?

Ethiopia offers various types of tourism experiences, including cultural tourism, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, wildlife tourism, and historical tourism. The country’s unique landscape, paleontological and archaeological sites, and living cultural attractions make it a diverse and fascinating destination for tourists.

Ethiopia Broke ALL Of My Expectations! (#171)

Why do tourists come to ethiopia.

Tourists come to Ethiopia for its dramatic scenery, rich biodiversity, and protected areas. The country is known for its high number of endemic species and offers a paradise for nature lovers. Visitors are also attracted to Ethiopia’s unique cultural heritage and history.

What is the most visited place in Ethiopia?

The most famous tourist destination in Ethiopia is Lalibela, known for its rock-hewn churches. Lalibela attracts a significant number of visitors from around the world, making it the most visited place in the country.

What are the social challenges of the tourism sector in Ethiopia?

In the Addis Ababa-Upper rift valley corridor, the tourism sector faces various practical challenges. These include the absence of textual information on tourist destinations’ physical and cultural features, poor sanitation standards in smaller hotels and restaurants, and issues related to begging and street children.

What are the challenges of tourism and hospitality in Ethiopia?

The sustainable development of the tourism industry in Ethiopia is affected by various external and internal factors. These include a shortage of tourist facilities, lack of skilled human resources, weak promotion, inadequate integration between stakeholders, and political will.

When did tourism start in Ethiopia?

Tourism activity in Ethiopia started approximately 45 years ago. The first tourist organization was established in 1961, and the Imperial Government enacted a decree in 1962 to develop tourism and attract investors to the sector.

What is Ethiopia mainly known for?

Ethiopia is known for its diverse culture and history. It is also famous for its coffee, national parks, and welcoming people.

What is the slogan of Ethiopia tourism?

The slogan of Ethiopia tourism is “Land of Origins.” It was introduced in 2016 by the Ethiopian Tourism Organization (ETO) to reposition the Ethiopian brand and promote tourism in the country.

Why is Ethiopia so unique?

Ethiopia is unique for several reasons. It is the oldest independent country in Africa and has a rich history of resisting European colonization. The country is known for its cultural heritage, including the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and its unique rock-hewn churches. Ethiopia also boasts diverse landscapes and a high number of endemic species.

Is Ethiopia safe for travel now?

Ethiopia is currently rated at Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) by the U.S. Department of State due to sporadic violent conflicts, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping in some border areas. Travelers are advised to exercise caution and stay informed about the current situation.

What is the ecotourism potential in Ethiopia?

Ethiopia has significant potential for ecotourism. The country is home to several protected areas, including national parks, wildlife reserves, forests, and biosphere reserves. These areas offer opportunities for visitors to explore Ethiopia’s unique environment and contribute to conservation efforts.

What is the father of tourism in Ethiopia?

Hapteselassie Tafesse is often referred to as the father of the tourism industry in Ethiopia. He played a significant role in establishing the country’s tourism infrastructure and promoting Ethiopia as a tourist destination.

What is the biggest challenge for the tourism sector?

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the tourism sector globally. It poses a threat to tourism destinations, including Ethiopia, by affecting weather patterns, ecosystems, and natural attractions. Other challenges include overtourism, COVID-19, poaching, wildlife loss, safety, and security.

What are the challenges of the industry in Ethiopia?

The industry in Ethiopia faces various challenges identified by the World Economic Forum (WEF), including burdensome customs administrative procedures, high logistics costs, limited access to credit and foreign exchange, and other challenges impacting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

What are the challenges of domestic tourism development in Ethiopia?

The challenges of domestic tourism development in Ethiopia include the absence of a domestic tourism strategy, political tribalism, language barriers, lack of organized tours, and monotonous tourism products in certain destinations. Other challenges include price increases and the travel culture of Ethiopian society.

What economic challenges does Ethiopia face?

Ethiopia is currently facing multiple economic challenges, including the impact of shocks on the economy, increasing inflation, fiscal and external pressures, and a need for macroeconomic balance. The country is committed to implementing structural reforms to support private sector-led growth and address these challenges.

What is the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Ethiopia?

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Ethiopia is responsible for researching, preserving, developing, and promoting the country’s culture and tourist attractions. The ministry aims to showcase Ethiopia’s cultural heritage and tourism potential both within the country and internationally.

What are Ethiopian social issues?

Contemporary Ethiopia faces various social challenges, including militarization of state and non-state actors, youth unemployment, food insecurity, perceived inequality and discrimination among ethnic groups, ethnic and political polarization, and other social issues affecting the nation.

What is the impact of tourism in Ethiopia?

Tourism has a significant economic impact in Ethiopia. It contributes to foreign exchange earnings, employment generation, and income creation. Additionally, tourism indirectly supports the development and expansion of various economic

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Ethiopian News Agency - ENA

Tourism Minister Attending International Tourism Exhibition

A ddis Ababa, March 6 /2024 (ENA) Ethiopia's Tourism Minister Nasise Chali is attending the International Tourism Exhibition (ITB), being underway in Berlin, Germany.

This year’s edition of the exhibition is underway from 5-7 March 2024 in Berlin, with a wide focus that encapsulates all the related sectors in tourism.

The exhibition would serve as a platform for tourism companies and countries from all over the world to promote their destinations and tourism services, it was learned.

Tourism Minister Ambassador Nasise promoted Ethiopia's tourism destination development projects and tourist attraction sites that the country has been paying attention to the sector in recent years.

She also held discussions with various international institutions that will enable to work together.

Many domestic tourism service providers including Ethiopian Airlines are participating in this exhibition, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

Tourism Minister Attending International Tourism Exhibition

Ethiopia: Tourism Minister Attending International Tourism Exhibition

Addis Ababa, March 6 /2024 (ENA) Ethiopia's Tourism Minister Nasise Chali is attending the International Tourism Exhibition (ITB), being underway in Berlin, Germany.

This year's edition of the exhibition is underway from 5-7 March 2024 in Berlin, with a wide focus that encapsulates all the related sectors in tourism.

The exhibition would serve as a platform for tourism companies and countries from all over the world to promote their destinations and tourism services, it was learned.

Tourism Minister Ambassador Nasise promoted Ethiopia's tourism destination development projects and tourist attraction sites that the country has been paying attention to the sector in recent years.

She also held discussions with various international institutions that will enable to work together.

Many domestic tourism service providers including Ethiopian Airlines are participating in this exhibition, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

Read the original article on ENA .

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ethiopia tourism sector

COMMENTS

  1. Tourism in Ethiopia

    Tourism in Ethiopia accounted for 5.5% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2006, having barely increased 2% over the previous year. The government is proving its commitment and willingness to develop tourism through a number of initiatives. Tourism is a featured component of Ethiopia's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), which aims to combat poverty and encourage economic ...

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    In 2021, Ethiopia generated around 2.60 billion US dollars in the tourism sector alone. This corresponds to 2.1 percent of its the gross domestic product and approximately 31 percent of all international tourism receipts in Eastern Africa. Worldwide comparisons: › International tourism › List of safest travel countries Back to overview ...

  4. DISCOVERING ETHIOPIA

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  11. Publication: Ethiopia's Tourism Sector : Strategic Paths to

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  12. Can Ethiopia rebuild its COVID-19 damaged tourism sector?

    15 August 2022. 00:00. From archaeological and heritage sites to conservation parks, and music and cultural festivals, Ethiopia boasts a wide array of tourist attractions. However it lost 70 per cent of tourism revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with massive job losses - a situation that was worsened by the outbreak of war in the ...

  13. Ethiopia's fragile tourism industry at crucial juncture

    Tourism in Ethiopia currently generates $2.9bn for the economy each year, close to a million jobs and about 4.5 percent of the gross domestic product, according to the World Bank. That percentage ...

  14. Ethiopia records biggest growth in World Travel and Tourism

    The sector now represents 9.4% of Ethiopia's total economy. The Council's research compares the Travel and Tourism sectors across 185 countries and shows that in 2018 in Ethiopia the sectors: Significantly outpaced the global growth rate of 3.9%, the African growth rate of 5.6%. Supported 2.2 million jobs, or 8.3% total employment.

  15. Ethiopia: Opportunities and Challenges of Tourism Development in

    The tourism industry in Ethiopia could be legitimately described as one that is still in its infancy. Its current low level of development is often attributed to changes in governance systems and development policies, weak promotion, lack of trained manpower, finance, and knowledge and management capacity. In particular, the sudden and dramatic shift of the country's political leadership and ...

  16. Assessment of tourism industry in Gondar City, Ethiopia

    As a service sector, tourism played a significant role in changing the image of a country, improving and facilitating economic growth and development. The tourism sector in Ethiopia is at its early stage. It has become necessary to pay special attention and a thorough analysis of the number of local and international tourist arrival and revenue. Accordingly, the assessment of revenue and ...

  17. Recent Reforms to Propel Ethiopia's Tourism Industry, says New Report

    The firm released its latest report that gives an overview of the hotel industry on Monday. As of March 2020, international arrivals in Ethiopia decreased by 35.5% year-on-year to 118,950, according to the report. JLL attributed the drop to decreased flights, as well as cancellations by Ethiopian Airlines, which flies to over 80 destinations ...

  18. Ethiopia: Opportunities and Challenges of Tourism Development in the

    In spite of a long history of promotion and development, Ethiopia's tourism industry is in its initial stages of development. Changes in governance systems have resulted in different social constructions of the role of tourism in national development. Since 1990s, the partial opening up of the economy to private investment, the liberalization of national economic management and a modicum of ...

  19. Ethiopia's Tourism Sector Reform Contributes to Realizing Inclusive

    Addis Ababa December 25/2023 (ENA) The reform measures being carried out with a view to properly utilize Ethiopia's tourism potentials have been contributing to bring inclusive national growth ...

  20. Ethiopia's tourism sector to benefit from the country's first travel

    Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (February 3, 2021) - Today, startup studio 1888EC announced a partnership with the Mastercard Foundation to create the country's first travel and leisure platform aimed at creating digital solutions and job opportunities within Ethiopia's tourism sector. 1888EC, a unique and innovative startup studio established through the partnership, is the first-of-its-kind in ...

  21. Ethiopia Tourism Statistics 1995-2024

    Ethiopia tourism statistics for 2018 was 3,548,000,000.00, a 41.64% increase from 2017. Ethiopia tourism statistics for 2017 was 2,505,000,000.00, a 17.17% increase from 2016. Download Historical Data Save as Image. Data Source: World Bank MLA Citation: Similar Country Ranking; Country Name Spending ($)

  22. What is the tourism sector in Ethiopia?

    The tourism sector in Ethiopia plays a crucial role in the country's economy. It contributes significantly to the GDP and provides employment opportunities for millions of people. However, the sector has faced significant challenges due to the impact of COVID-19 and the global economic recession. What is the …

  23. Tourism Minister Attending International Tourism Exhibition

    Tourism Minister Ambassador Nasise promoted Ethiopia's tourism destination development projects and tourist attraction sites that the country has been paying attention to the sector in recent years.

  24. Ethiopia: Exemplary Achievement in Tourism Sector

    The Government of Ethiopia is currently implementing a number of strategic measures to further develop the country's tourism sector, including investment in infrastructure and capacity building on ...

  25. Full article: The role of social media marketing in Ethiopian tourism

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  26. Ethiopia: Tourism Minister Attending International Tourism Exhibition

    Tourism Minister Ambassador Nasise promoted Ethiopia's tourism destination development projects and tourist attraction sites that the country has been paying attention to the sector in recent years.