Pundits in the tourism and hospitality sector argued that those who are expected to realize the magnitude of the sector does not have a clear picture about it, which is becoming a challenge to tap the option to benefit from it.
At an event held on tourism sector development and challenges hosted by Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association (Addis Chamber) experts on the sector said that lack of understanding for the sector is one of the major challenge in the industry.
Hirut Kassaw, Head of Addis Ababa Culture, Arts and Tourism Bureau said that she is concerned that the public and even government officials have proper understanding of what tourism is.
“The tourism sector is not properly understood by the public and even political leaders. It is important to fully realize the magnitude of the sector which is crucial for the development,” Hirut, who was also a professor on the sector at Gonder University, said.
“Due to that it is easily affected when problems occurred in different occasion,” she added.
The former professor said that Ethiopian tourism is considered as for the reach and foreigners, while local tourism which is vital to economy is very poor.
“To expand the domestic tourism it is supposed to be affordable and support by different policy instruments,” Hirut added by showing the cost of airfare and accommodations that is very expensive for the locals.
“Making the sector cost effective is very important if we want to see the sector develop in general and domestic tourism in particular,” she added.
She said that according to World Truism Organization (WTO) annual report Ethiopia is included on the green list for tourism potential, while in service or facilitation the country is listed in yellow and red lists that are bad standard. The infrastructure sector is always in the red list as per WTO report.
Thewodros Atlabachew, prominent consultant on the tourism sector, said that most of the challenges and possible solutions tabled for the government and relevant actors are almost similar.
At the panel discussion under the motto of ‘the doing business environment with a focus on tourism and hospitality sector’ he said that to change the scenario commitment is crucial from all parties.
Getahun Alemu, President of Ethiopian Tourism and Hotel Marketing Association, said that association partnership with similar global bodies in the sector is crucial to cooperate and even get the market. He shows that his association signed MoU with similar foreign organs that enable the country to be included on their tourism package.
Andinet Feleke, President of the Ethiopian Tour Operators Association, said tourist attraction by itself is not a product, “if we want the destinations to be a source of revenue we have to massively conduct promotion.”
According to Mesenbet Shenkute, President of Addis Chamber, the tourism sector contribution for the GDP is about nine percent and 10 percent of job for Ethiopia.