ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Over 474,000 tourists visited Ethiopia during the first nine months of the current Ethiopian fiscal year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said.
Public and International Relation Director with the Ministry, Aweke Tenaw told ENA that over 371.8 million US dollars revenue was secured from the visitors.
The number of tourists and the revenue secured during the reported period increased by 35 percent and 50 percent respectively compared to that of same time in the previous year.
Activities carried out to promote tourist sites in the country by the regional states and participation of the country in nine international tourism trade fairs contributed to the growth in the number of visitors.
The trade fairs were organized in Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, among others, the director said.
Ethiopia has nine heritages inscribed by UNESCO as world heritages, which also contributed to the growth in the number of visitors.
Ongoing infrastructure development, increasing number of flight destinations of the Ethiopian Airlines as well as the existing peace and stability coupled with the sound economic growth are making the country a top priority for tourism, he said.
Ethiopia is the land of numerous tourist attractions. Nine of its heritages are inscribed by UNESCO as World Heritage sites.
The sites include, Axum Obelisk, Fasil Ghebbi, Harar Jugol Wall, Konso Cultural Landscape, Lower Valley of Awash, Lower Valley of Omo, Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Tiya carved stones and Simien National Park.
