Is tourism that lucrative under circumstances of deteriorating security?
Ethiopian News
borkena
November 22.2017
Ethiopian government claims a revenue of 959 million USD out of tourism sector. Pro-government broadcaster, Fana, reported that it is generated in the first four months of this fiscal year.
A total of 256,000 tourists visited the country added the report citing Ministry of Culture and Tourism sources.
Given the fact that a number of countries including United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have issued a travel warning to advise their citizen traveling to Ethiopia due to deteriorating security condition in the country, the numbers do not seem to add up.
Recent reports were rather indicating that the tourism sector, an additional foreign currency source for the government, suffered decline.
Ethiopia has a huge potential for tourism as the country has natural and historical tourist attractions. Located close to the Equator with tropical weather through the year, the country has numerous national parks with endemic wild animals and birds.
Government is facing chronic shortages of foreign currency and has recently announced 15 % devaluation of Ethiopian currency on grounds of “promoting export”
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