Ethiopia Among World’s Fastest-Growing Tourism Destinations: BBC Travel

Addis Ababa, February 18, 2026 (ENA)—Ethiopia is among the world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations for 2026, with international arrivals surging by 15 percent in 2025, according to a recent report by BBC Travel that cited the latest World Tourism Barometer of UN Tourism.

The report, titled “Tourism is booming in 2026 – just not where you think,” placed Ethiopia alongside emerging high-identity destinations such as Bhutan and Brazil, highlighting the country’s distinctive cultural heritage, natural landscapes and renewed global appeal.

According to the Barometer, Africa recorded the strongest regional growth at 8 percent, with Ethiopia among the continent’s standout performers.

The launch of the Visit Ethiopia digital platform in 2025, expanded hotel investments, and improved air connectivity through Ethiopian Airlines, have further strengthened accessibility and traveler confidence.

The BBC report underscored Ethiopia’s unmatched historical and anthropological wealth. It described the country as one of the world’s richest destinations for archaeology and natural history, pointing to the legacy of the ancient Aksumite civilization, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the medieval castles of Gondar, and the dramatic landscapes of the Simien Mountains, home to the endemic Gelada baboon.

Southern Ethiopia’s Omo Valley was also cited for its living cultural traditions, further reinforcing Ethiopia’s identity as a cradle of humanity and civilization.

While the BBC report referenced past challenges, it noted that flights resumed in 2023 and travel interest rebounded significantly in 2024 and 2025. International tour operators interviewed by the publication reported rising bookings, including from younger travelers and educational groups.

Ethiopia’s growing global visibility comes amid sweeping homegrown reforms and strategic investments in tourism infrastructure under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Over the past several years, Ethiopia has unveiled landmark tourism projects aimed at repositioning the country as a premier African destination.

Signature initiatives such as the “Dine for Nation” and “Dine for Generation” programs have mobilized domestic resources to develop world-class tourist facilities while promoting environmental sustainability and heritage conservation.

These projects are part of a broader strategy to diversify tourism products, enhance service quality, and extend visitor stays by integrating culture, nature, gastronomy and conference tourism.

Aligned with the broader tourism resurgence, Ethiopia is pursuing a model that balances growth with sustainability. The government’s green development agenda, corridor development projects, and eco-lodge investments also aim to spread benefits to local communities.

By integrating heritage preservation, environmental stewardship and infrastructure modernization, Ethiopia is positioning itself not merely as a destination of the past, but as a forward-looking tourism powerhouse.

As global travel continues its rebound in 2026, Ethiopia’s emergence among the fastest-growing destinations signals the tangible impact of reform-driven development and a clear national vision to make tourism a pillar of economic transformation.