Ethiopia targets to have further 14 world heritages on UNESCO list during its second Growth and Transformation Plan GTP-2 period, disclosed the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Alongside the global recognition, the next five years plan aims at saving and transferring the nation’s ancient values and heritages to the coming generation.
Ethiopian Timket (Epiphany), Shadey/Ashenda and the Oromo Geda system are mentioned among the proposed intangible heritages to be registered during the reported period.
Gezahegn Abate, Public and International Relations Director at the Ministry told ENA that the major goal of registering heritages both at national and international levels is to transfer “our forefathers” values for the new generation and keeping them safely.
Over 50,000 heritages have been registered at national level while 10 of them are registered under UNESCO.
Registering heritages at national and international levels is crucial to protect them from illegal actions, according to Fanta Beyene, Public and International Relations Director with Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritages.
The Director further stated other advantages of registering heritages including gathering and keeping them in museums used for research and tourist attraction as well.
Focus will be given to gathering, protecting and saving tangible and intangible heritages alongside ensuring economic benefits of the community and the country as a whole.
Expanding hotels and lodges around national parks, availing internet services and road networks are among activities being undertaking by the government to extend tourists` stay around the destinations.
The Meskel festival, the finding of the True Cross, and Fiche Chamballala are Ethiopia’s heritages inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
Ethiopia is the leading country in Africa for registering over ten tangible and intangible heritages by UNESCO and many more heritages are on the pipeline to join the prestigious list.
Heritages should be registered at the national level before their formal submission at UNESCO.
According to the Ministry, over 910, 000 tourists visited the country last fiscal year which generated some 3.4 billion USD as the nation’s image improves.
Despite the limited budget, the ministry in collaboration with the local community and UNESCO is also undertaking maintenance activities on ancient heritages.
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