Tourism generates over $1 Billion in six months

Addis Ababa, 28 February 2014 (WIC)– Over 1.38 billion US dollars revenue was obtained from tourism in the first half of this Ethiopian budget year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Public and International Relations Directorate Director with the Ministry, Awoke Tenaw told WIC that the revenue was earned from 370,754 foreign tourists who visited the nation.

The number of tourists increased by 36 per cent compared to that of same period the previous year. The income has also increased significantly, he added.

The activities carried out to extend tourists’ period of stay, promote tourist sites and participation at international tourism trade fairs and exhibition contributed for the increase in revenue, he said.

According to Awoke, the average number of days tourists stay here has now is creased to sixty days from six some six years ago.

The country had also participated in the trade fairs and exhibitions organized in Britain, France, Japan and Brazil, according to the director.