Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Nearly half a million tourists visited Ethiopia in the last 9 months

(July 03, 2012, Addis Ababa)--The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced that over 474,000 tourists visited Ethiopia during the first nine months of the current Ethiopian fiscal year, up to end of March. Aweke Tenaw, the Public and International Relations Director with the Ministry, said that the industry had therefore generated US$371.8 million in revenue during this period.

The numbers and the revenue showed an increase of 35 percent and 50 percent respectively over the same period last year. According to the Director, the growth is attributable to the activities to promote tourist sites in the country by regional states and though participation in nine international tourism trade fairs.

In addition, infrastructural development, including the increase in the number of flight destinations for the Ethiopian Airlines as well as the country’s peace and stability coupled with sound economic growth are helping to make it a preferred tourist destination.

Ethiopia contains nine UNESCO World Heritage sites which provide special attraction for visitors: the obelisks of Axum, the castles of Gondar, the walls of Harar, the Konso Landscape, the Lower Valley of the Awash River, the Lower Valley of the Omo River, the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, the Tiya stones and the Semien National Park, as well as a wealth of other attractions, including a wealth of animal and bird life and cultural events.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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