Ethiopia Records Highest-Ever Foreign Tourist Arrivals: PM Abiy Ahmed
Ethiopia has recorded its highest-ever number of foreign tourist arrivals, according to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who shared the figures during the country’s 42nd regular session of the House of People’s Representatives. The Prime Minister highlighted that over 1.3 million foreign visitors entered the country, largely driven by a significant increase in international conferences—more than 150 hosted in the year, double the previous period. Domestic tourism also surged, with 1.5 million people visiting key landmarks in Addis Ababa such as Unity Park and the Science Museum, generating over half a billion birr in revenue.
The Prime Minister credited the tourism growth to strategic reforms and infrastructure development, including enhancements to immigration procedures, the expansion of Ethiopian Airlines, and improvements to hospitality and national attractions. Ethiopian Airlines has added 13 new aircraft to its fleet—now totalling 180—and introduced six new international routes, increasing its destination count to 136 and transporting over 19 million passengers. Tourism, alongside aviation and other service sectors, is being positioned as a critical contributor to Ethiopia’s economic diversification and global connectivity.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency