Nation participates in nine int’l tourism promotion events

June 11, 2006

Addis Ababa - Ethiopia has participated in nine international exhibitions hosted by a number of countries over the past ten months, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture announced. These events provided a venue to promote the country’s tourism resources to a global scope, it said.

Accordingly, the country featured its tourist attractions at international events held in Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, U.A.E, Sweden and U.S.A., Ministry Culture and Tourism Promotion Department Acting Head Habtamu Bekele told ENA.

In these events, attended by a great many people from all over the globe including investors, travellers and eminent personalities, Ethiopia’s attractions were displayed at its own pavilions, he said.

The country’s tourism resources were featured through demonstrations as well as in the form of flyers, documentaries at the events, where Ethiopia’s traditional coffee ceremony entertained the audience, he said.

Various cultural shows were presented at the Ethiopian pavilion to demonstrate the history and cultures of the nations and nationalities of the country, he indicated.

He said 40 to 60 per cent of the global tourism promotion activities are held at such international events.

According to Habtamu, the general feedback gained at the events showed that the audience were stunned at witnessing fascinating displays from Ethiopia.

In addition, he said, travel book writers and photographers organized under four teams had captured Ethiopia’s attractions, which they aired on international media channels.

In addition to the contributions of the government to have enabled these promotional programmes, the Ethiopian Airlines, tour operators, hotels and various organizations have played their due roles, he said. Nearly two million birr was spent on the promotional activities.

(ENA)