Ethiopia targets $6 billion revenue from tourism sector in second GTP
Addis Ababa – Ministry of Culture and Tourism said that Ethiopia has targeted to earn six billion USD revenue from the tourism sector in its second Growth and Transformation Plan.
Public and International Relations director with the Ministry, Gezahegn Abate told WIC that the ministry plans to earn six billion USD revenue per year from the expected six million foreign visitors to the nation in the GTP II period.
The contribution of the tourism sector to the country’s GTP so far is about 1.2 percent, Gezahegn said, adding that it is now planned to raise its contribution to 5 percent.
According to Gezahegn the influx of foreign visitors to Ethiopia has shown an average growth of 10 percent in the past seven years, the average tourist staying period rose up to 16 days.
According to Gezahegn, the tourism sector has created 783,638 jobs for citizens in the last four years of the first GTP.
Standardization of 400 star ranked Hotels has begun in the nation to increase the service quality delivered for the foreign visitors, said Gezahegn, adding that International accredited standardization activities so far conducted on 50 hotels in Addis Ababa city.
After the downfall of the Dreg regime in 1991, Ethiopia has been attracting a huge number of foreign tourists visiting a variety of magnificent natural, cultural, historical and religious heritages found in the country.
Source: Walta
Ethiopia is a country with a huge potential for Tourism. The country has many attractions including unique historical record, Ten World Heritage Sites, incredible record of hominid fossils and stone tools, dramatic scenery, distinctive cultural attractions and potential for wildlife development. It also has a friendly and welcome people and attractive climate.
Tourism has the largest growth potential of any economic activity in Ethiopia, given the country’s wealth of historical and natural sites. Earnings from tourism rose from 169,975,086 in 2006 to 333,352,000 USD in 2010 Visitor arrivals increased from 290,458 in 2006 to 468,305 in 2010 according to the head of tourism promotion. Tourism will also benefit from new investment in hotels and tour operators.
Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia has a vision to make the country top five destinations in Africa by 2020. Additionally, the newly established Tourism Transformation Council and Ethiopia Tourism Organizations, responsible particularly to market & promote the tourism industry and generally to build image of the county.
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