Ethiopia has seen a significant surge in its tourism sector this year, attracting a record 1.3 million foreign visitors. This impressive growth is largely attributed to a robust conference tourism sector, which successfully hosted over 150 international conferences, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) announced.
Prime Minister Abiy highlighted that the number of conferences hosted this year far surpasses last year's figures. Speaking before the House of People's Representatives yesterday, he explained that international organizations are increasingly choosing Ethiopia for their events due to extensive development efforts in the sector.
He noted that the 1.3 million foreign tourist arrivals mark the highest number the country has ever recorded. This positive trend, he stated, is a direct result of comprehensive improvements in immigration services, airline efficiency, hotel accommodations, and the development of new tourist destinations, including significant corridor development projects.
The Prime Minister also revealed that popular sites like the Science Museum, Unity Park, and Friendship Park have collectively welcomed 13.5 million visitors in the past few years alone. He added that data from the capital, Addis Ababa, indicates a substantial increase in both domestic and international tourist numbers this year.
Ultimately, Prime Minister Abiy underscored that enhanced service delivery has been a cornerstone in driving this remarkable growth in Ethiopia's tourism industry.