Ethiopia attempts to lure tourists following unrest

By Seleshi Tessema

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - Ethiopian authorities, who have been struggling to shore up a multibillion tourism industry that has been affected by months of violent unrest, are trying to attract Turkish and Chinese tourists and undo travel warnings and cancellations, an official has said.

Jemal Kedir, deputy head of the Ethiopian Tourism Organization, told Anadolu Agency that months of violent unrest relaying negative images to global audiences -- the cause of travel warnings issued by certain western governments -- had negatively impacted the annual growth of the industry.

“In the wake of the problem [unrest] we have revised the annual plan and we anticipate that the income will decrease by half a billion dollars,” he said.

Ethiopia hosts world-renowned sites such as ancient churches, castles, and parks. The tourism industry contributes 3.2 percent to the GDP.

In 2015-16, Ethiopia has earned $3.5 billion from tourism. And some 900,000 tourists had visited the country, Kedir said.

“The immediate impact [of the unrest] has been insignificant,” Kedir nuanced. “During the first three months of the unrest, the flow of tourists and income have only shown a 0.84 percent decrease when compared to the previous year.”

“The impact of unrest took place during the low season, but had it been in peak market season which stretches between October and May, it could have been very serious.” he added.

Nevertheless, a task force composed of industry actors has been set up in order to promote activities destined at attracting Turkish, Chinese and other eastern tourists, said Kedir.

“Turkish journalists drawn from many media houses will soon visit our eye-catching touristic sites and will provide objective testimonies about our unique offerings,” he said. “The excellent relations between the people and governments of the two countries and low-cost travel will attract Turkish tourists.”

“No matter what, traditionally we attract well-informed tourists who are capable of reading the reality on the ground. They will come,” added Kedir.

- At the sites

The northern Amhara region, which had been badly hit by months of anti-government protests, hosts the most widely visited touristic sites.

Yeshewas Dessalenge, an expert with the Culture and Tourist Bureau told Anadolu Agency by phone from Bahir Dar, the regional capital, that business was slowly getting back to normal.

“Now, there is peace and stability, and tourists have begun to come in droves,” he said.

According to a private guide in the city who asked not to be named due to state of emergency restrictions, the flow of foreign tourists did not match that of previous peak periods.

“Yes, they are coming, and increasing day by day,” he said. “But, as was in the past, some of them don’t stay longer.’’