By: Lalu Etalla

President Taye Atske-Selassie has announced that the Ethiopian government is working diligently to strengthen its ongoing tourism development initiatives, with the goal of attracting over 1.6 million international visitors to the country within the 2019 E.C. (2026/27) fiscal year.

The president has made these remarks during his address at the joint opening session of the House of Peoples' Representatives and the House of Federation.

In his speech, he emphasized that Ethiopia is making extensive preparations to successfully host major international forums, including the upcoming COP32 Summit, among others.

President Taye further highlighted the government’s commitment to integrating tourism growth with diplomatic success. He noted that by fostering these connections, the administration aims to achieve an economic growth rate of 10.1 percent in this year.

"Our goal is to ensure Ethiopia stands firm in unwavering national unity, where citizens are guided by a spirit of service, thinking of the next generation, and working toward the nation’s prosperity," the president stated.

He further stressed that to achieve the country’s grand strategic objectives, Ethiopia will rely on its internal strengths, including depth of thought, breadth of knowledge, high ethical standards, and a proactive drive to execute tasks.

"The government’s focus will be to foster a sophisticated working environment rooted in strong discipline, hard work, and knowledge, ultimately transforming the standard of living for our people," President Taye added.