Ethiopia has seen a significant influx of visitors, with 376,615 foreign tourists arriving in the last 100 days, according to Dr. Fitsum Assefa, Minister of Planning and Development.

Dr. Fistum emphasized that the nation's burgeoning capacity for conference tourism is a major catalyst for this growth. She noted that 29 international conferences were successfully hosted within the same 100-day period.

These 29 conferences drew 35,115 foreign participants, including high-level events attended by heads of state, all of which concluded successfully, the minister added.

This success underscores Ethiopia's enhanced infrastructure and capability to host international standard conferences. Dr. Fistum highlighted that the economic benefits extend significantly beyond mere image-building.

To further boost revenue from the sector, the government is intensifying efforts to identify and develop new tourist attractions while also enhancing the value of existing ones, the minister affirmed.

She also pointed out that the surge in conference tourism is providing substantial support to auxiliary service sectors. The revitalization observed in hotel, transport, and communication services is particularly noteworthy.

This sectoral boost has propelled hotel room occupancy rates to surpass pre-COVID levels, registering a remarkable 70 percent growth.