Ethiopia and China have enjoyed vibrant and exemplary diplomatic relations. Particularly, over the past 25 years bilateral relations between the two countries have developed significantly. The two countries have now strong partnership in trade, investment and people to people relations.
The remarkable economic cooperation between the Ethiopia and China has created opportunities in various sectors including tourism. One can see the miraculous economic growth in China has shifted the life style of Chinese people and today millions of Chinese have been showing keen interests in visiting various countries as tourists.
Therefore, Ethiopia has various natural and man-made tourist attractions coupled with other cultural and religious sites such as the Axum obelisk, Gonder castle, the lalibella rock-when church,the Harar wall. With regard to natural attractions, the northern mountains including Rasdashen with numerous walya Ibex wild animals, the Bale mountains with mountain Nyala and the Afar live volcano and various naturally reach tourist sites in Southern Nation and Nationalities state are some of the must-sees tourism attraction places.
Moreover,the flourishing tourism conference in the city and other towns has also prospect to support the nation Growth Domestic Production with a view to creating job opportunities for tens of thousands.
Indeed, countries such as Egypt and Kenya earn 7 percent of their GDP from tourism sector and if the necessary attention is payed to the sector Ethiopia has good opportunity to earn more from tourism. It is true that the government has been putting in place every necessary infrastructures such as roads, airports, hotels, electric lines, tell communication and the like.
Yes, the ongoing rapid economic development and urbanization has also created good opportunities for the booming of the sector.
Cognizant of the enabling environment of tourist attraction in Ethiopia, the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia has recently organized the consultation conference among the Chinese investors, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, local companies engaged in tourism business and tour organizations.
At the meeting, the Chinese investors had reaffirmed their interests in building tourism resorts, hotels, beaches, swimming pools, flight agents and tour operation institutions in Ethiopia. The Chinese Ambassador in Ethiopia Ly Fan on his part also pledged to provide his diplomatic corridor for the attraction of Chinese investors to come here and invest in the sector. The Chinese investment, particularly, the public one is already in flourishing in Ethiopia and tremendous has paramount importance to deepen relations.
Currently, the Ethiopian airlines is one of the largest airlines in the continent which has made Addis Ababa the hub of air transport. It also connects China with the whole of Africa. Almost 70 percent of Chinese passengers come to the continent by the Ethiopian airlines. Furthermore, the Ethiopian airlines makes 28 flights per week directly to four Chinese cities. And so, the Ethiopian airlines is now playing a pivotal role in laying ground for economic integration between Africa and China. Of course, the relatively low-cost of flight price and hotel accommodation have made Ethiopia preferable for Chinese visitors.
Obviously, the expansion of hotels, resorts and other facilities create job opportunities for hundreds of thousands The involvement of Chinese investors in the tourism sector would accelerate the coming of Foreign Direct Investment to the country. On the other hand, many more Chinese tourists and others have kept flowing to Ethiopia. This means the inflow of huge hard currency to the government coffer. This in turn could shore up the nation’s hard currency scarcity.
The tourism industry is also environment friendly which is compatible to the nation aspiration to achieve green growth and can be said the most feasible. It goes without saying to attract more Chinese investment in the tourism sector, more incentives such tax holidays among others should be taken into account.
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