Ethiopian Airlines global transit passengers to enjoy taste of capital gratis

Ethiopia is working on increasing the number of foreign tourists to the country, with a keen interest in Chinese tourists. 

Speaking to Xinhua last year, Gezahegn Abate, the public and international relations director of the Ethiopia Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said they are working on attracting tourists from China, whose numbers have steadily increased in the past several years.

He said the ministry is encouraging Chinese investment in Ethiopia's hospitality sector with a view to dramatically increasing the number of Chinese tourists.

Abate said Ethiopia earned $169.6 million from 45,3017 Chinese tourists who visited the country in 2017. This was an increase from 41,659 tourists recorded in 2016.

Ethiopian Airlines currently flies to six destinations in China, including Beijing,  Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

According to research by Tadesse Kidane-Mariam, a professor in the Department of Geography at Edinboro University in the US, the low level of development, marketing and promotion of nature tourism in Ethiopia has resulted in many foreigners going to East Africa, side-stepping the country.

"The Addis Ababa -Upper Rift Valley corridor could easily develop into a vibrant and sustainable tourist destination for both domestic and foreign visitors. The wide range of natural resources and most developed infrastructure and services along the corridor lend it special significance," the research states.

Unfortunately, Ethiopia's tourism has been more focused on the socio-cultural and historical aspects of the country's development.