State obtains over 157 mln. Birr from tourists

Hawassa , Ethiopia -(ENA) More than 157 million Birr has been obtained from tourist who visited tourists destinations of the South Ethiopia People State in the just concluded Ethiopian budget year, the state culture and tourism Bureau said.

Bureau head, Zerihun Zewdie told ENA that the number of tourist visited the attractions exceeded that of last year by 64 percent.

He said Tiya Stella Lower Omo Valley, Konso cultural terrace, Crocodile Ranch among others were the tourists destinations,

Some 589,900 are domestic tourists while more than 136,000 of them are foreign tourists coming from Europe, USA and other countries.

He said the revenue secured from the reported period and tourist flow increased by more than 64 and 54 percent respectively.

The State government communication Affairs process owner Nigatua Matewios on their part said promotional works, training for guides, expansion of tourist destinations and tourist infrastructure, dissemination of research based information to tourists, among others.

She said more than 14, 000 people get jobs in the tourism development.