Ethiopia has welcomed more than 376,000 foreign tourists in just 100 days, signaling a strong rebound in its tourism sector and underscoring the country’s growing reputation as a leading destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) in Africa.
According to ebc.et, Dr. Fitsum Assefa, Minister of Planning and Development 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.
