Ethiopia earned over $1 billion in revenue from tourism between July to December 2018.
Although the country earned $1.4 billion from tourism, it fell short of its target for that fiscal year. The government had planned to rake in $2.7 billion from tourism in 2018, FanaBC reports.
However, according to Dr. Hirut Kassa, Ethiopia’s Minister of Culture, the country fell short of its goal and was only able to acquire about 53% of its targeted income.
About 380,376 tourists visited Ethiopia from July to December 2018. The figure could have been higher. However, unrest due to anti-government protests and the declaration of a state of emergency deterred tourists from coming to the country.
However, things are much better since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office last year. The East African country expects more tourists this year.
Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, was recently named the new World Capital of Culture and Tourism. The European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) gave Addis Ababa the award as the city prepares to mark 550 years as a political center. In 1889, Emperor Menelik II made Addis Ababa the capital of his empire.
The ECTT President, Professor Dr. Anton Caragea, visited Ethiopia recently and gave Mrs. Sahle Work Zewde the award and certificate making Addis Ababa the World Capital of Culture and Tourism.
Ethiopia authorities are working to develop the tourism sector of the country. The plan includes investing in infrastructure, product development, and capacity building. Officials recently created a Tourism Transformation Council.
Ethiopia’s tourism industry had a good spell in 2015/2016. The country earned about $2 billion from tourism and recorded an influx of over 1 million tourists.
