Ethiopia Striving to Become One of Top Eco-tourism Destinations

By Solomon D.

The 1960s saw the first emergence of ecology based tourism in and around natural habitats that were of interests mainly for scientists in their research and not as such for tourism. Currently, eco-tourism is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors across the globe. It promotes tourism focusing on the development of natural heritages such as landscapes, mountains, rivers, lakes, caves, among others.

 

Though it has not yet been well developed, Ethiopia is immensely rich with this form of tourism. Wherever you go across the country, you come across with enormous natural gifts with powerful attractions.  Spectacular chains of mountains, caves, lakes, rivers, dense forests and deep gorges are some of the natural wonders found in Ethiopia. These sites are also rich with various endemic animals, birds and plants. Ethiopia is also rich in various world heritages, culture, history and natural beauty elements. Despite their countless potential for economic growth by strengthening the tourism sector, most of the eco-tourist sites have not yet been adequately developed and utilized. 

It’s been only few years now since the sector has been given much important attention in Ethiopia. One of the major achievements that could be cited in this regard is “Dine for Ethiopia” initiative introduced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2020 to develop three eco-tourism sites in Wenchi, Gorgora and Koysha.

 

The projects, whose construction have been nearing completion, are believed to give impetus to strengthen the tourism sector of the country as they offer the untapped opportunity for investments in ecotourism. Endowed with natural assets, culture and history, Koysha, Gorgora and Wenchi projects will also enable decent work, livelihoods and return on investments for all stakeholders. Through the facilitation of basic infrastructure, multidimensional investments centered on tourism, recreation and hospitality are expected to catalyze the local economies and create many job opportunities, according to office of the prime minister. These three projects exhibit the link between Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient Green Economy Policy and the various projects which includes national greening strategies, ecotourism and researches in various spheres on nature based researches.

Prime Minister Abiy has also recently announced a much bigger plan to develop eight additional ecotourism sites in different parts of the country under “Dine for Generation” initiative. The initiative will be launched at Geralta, in Tigray, Hayk, in Amhara, Jimma, in Oromia, as well as Arbaminch, Afar, Somali, Beninshangul Gumuz and South West Region of the country. These projects are only few of the most affordable projects at this time but more eco-tourism projects are expected to follow over the years.

 

Ecotourism is now the fastest growing tourism sector across the globe. According to a research, the global ecotourism market size was valued at USD 185.87 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.2 percent from 2022 to 2030. The growth is mainly driven by the rising popularity of immersive travel, outdoor recreational activities, and solo traveling coupled with rapid urbanization. It is also been encouraged by tour companies and accommodation. Just imagine what Ethiopia can do in the sector with 11 more eco-tourism projects even at start up. Undoubtedly, given the current pace of the development of eco-tourism in the country, Ethiopia will certainly become one of the top eco-tourism destinations attracting millions of tourist across the world.

The socio-economic and cultural benefits, that Ethiopia can obtain from developing eco-tourism spots across the country is huge. The writer would like to mention only few of them. As a nature based center of tourist attraction, eco-tourism renders an immense contribution to the conservation of the fauna and flora including herbs with immense medical value in the country in their own natural habitats keeping the balance of nature and making the respective areas of attraction more resilient to the devastating effects of climate change.

 

Ecotourism will also open up a new venture for foreign direct investment both for foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin as well as investors from other countries. Nonetheless, it also provides an opportunity for local investors to engage in the sector. At this period in time when the country is being challenges with lack of foreign currency earnings, as an important component of the tourism sector eco-tourism can siphon in millions of foreign exchange earnings for the country and will help to promote all branches of tourism including medical tourism. Among other things, eco-tourism spots provide huge resources for scientific research in botany, hydrology and other research areas in natural and physical sciences.

Eco-tourism provides an excellent venue for cross cultural linkage between the people of Ethiopia and between tourists from around the world. This encourages the exchange of friendship between the people of Ethiopia and the rest of the world. On the other hand, such projects could help to reduce unemployment both in the rural and urban settings of the country by providing employment opportunities for the youth in and around the eco-tourism spots in the country.

The sub-sector sets an excellent opportunity for local craftsmen and women who can make a replica of the artifacts in their respective areas and generate income for the betterment of their livelihood. This could help to boost gender based women empowerment. Across the world, eco-tourism project sites have helped to develop various types of sports activities like horse racing, golf, rowing clubs, mountain trekking, fishing for sports, various types of athletics tournaments. In addition access to spas in the project areas will help visitors to maintain their fitness and also obtain some traditional healing services.

 

No wonder that eco-tourism projects are of greater value to reconcile human beings and nature and provide practical centers for nature based general education linking theory with practice. Eco-tourism projects are expected to benefit local communities to improve their livelihood and have access to health, infrastructure facilities, and local marketing opportunities.

Making eco-tourism projects more community based and participatory in their operations will provide sustained protection for the safety and security of the projects. On the other hand, eco-tourism projects provide excellent scenery for film production and will help to promote the sector which is still at its infant stage in Ethiopia. Ethiopian eco-tourism projects will provide excellent opportunities for research in sociology and anthropology and also in the areas of history and fine arts in those specific localities. In his recent visit to the Gorgora Ecotourism Project, Prime Minister Abiy was fascinated with the unique features of the project and noted that it is the first of its kind in the nation’s development endeavors. Ethiopia can develop the national parks across the country into eco-tourisim sites with additional beauty of the national wild life resources across the country.