Month: October 2016

Official Communication to all Tour Operators

Dear Sir, Madam,

The Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Benelux, Baltic Countries and mission to the EU would like to extend its sincere appreciation to all tour operators in the Benelux and Baltic countries for continually promoting Ethiopian tourism attractions and destinations.

With the view of promoting and developing the sector, the government of Ethiopia is vigorously working to improve the sector by executing several effective polices and strategies. As a result of these measures and the diversity of touristic destinations of Ethiopia, the country has witnessed a steady increase in the flow of tourists and growth of the industry. Similarly the country has launched a new tourism brand dubbed “Ethiopia Land of Origins”. For more info please visit the website of Ethiopian Tourism Organization: http://www.ethiopia.travel/

However, the country has seen a slow-down in the flow of tourist due to the recent unrest in some parts of the country. Recognizing the dividend of peace, the government has declared a state of emergency to effectively manage the situation. In this connection, the Embassy would like to reaffirm that the country is remains stable and safe to travel and that the state of emergency is just a temporarily to deepen the already existing stability. We would also like to communicate to all tour operators that the state of emergency is not intended to restrict the movement of tourists and hence travel to all the touristic destination of the country is not affected.

The Embassy reassures that it is possible and safe to visit Ethiopia for leisure or business with the usual commonsense vigilance. If you wish to witness the testimony of tourists recently visiting Ethiopia, please click here. The Ethiopian Airlines along with the service sector in the country are more than ready to offer the Ethiopian traditional warm hospitality for all visitors.

Should you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact the Embassy for more information.

Best regards,

Business and Tourism Section
Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels
tourism@ethiopianembassy.be

Read the official Note Verbal by clicking here

Tourist from Belgium in Ethiopia

For those who have booked a holiday in Ethiopia, or who are planning to visit, please be assured that all tourist areas remain safe. The Ethiopian Tourism Organization always values its visitors and is there to ensure a pleasant stay for all.

Here is what a Belgian Tourist said about his first visit of Ethiopia :

Branded hotels eying Ethiopia’s untouched richness

Cognizant of the untapped richness the country embraces, highly regarded & globally branded hotels are eying to Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is increasingly hosting branded hotels, with Ramada Addis Hotel, Radisson Blu, Sheraton Addis, Marriott Executive Apartments, Golden Tulip, Hilton and Best Western International on its crown list. The number is expected to rich to its pick with a joining of AU Grand Hotel, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hilton Worldwide, Pullmann, Wyndham Hotel Group and Crown Plaza. These Hotels offer sophisticated rooms and suits with luxurious facilities as well as refreshing terrace signature bars.

Global gastronomic delights mixed with internationally acclaimed domestic culinary tastes like shiro and Injera give the Hotels a distinctive and iconic savor to take pleasure in.

Most of these luxurious full of iconic structure hotels have the best views of the town. Hotel investment firms, hotel operators and hotel users are benefiting from the growing focus to tourism by the government to attract both leisure and business travelers.

EU announces new actions against crisis in the Horn of Africa

The European Union has announced new actions to respond to the El Niño and food security crisis in the Horn of Africa (HoA), according to a European Commission press release.

Four new actions worth €66.5 million will be funded under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa to address the destructive impacts of the El Niño phenomenon in the Horn of Africa region, such as floods and droughts.

These actions are part of the EU global response to the El Niño phenomenon, worth almost €550 million (of which €258.5 are allocated to countries in East Africa).

The four resilience-oriented projects will contribute to peace-building and economic development, empowering vulnerable groups to meet food and nutrition needs as well as developing more efficient water management systems and resilient agricultural practices.

The projects also create income generating opportunities to help poor households become self-sufficient and strengthen capacity of local institutions for service delivery.

“This package of development assistance focuses on the four countries that are most severely hit by El Niño and that are experiencing the highest levels of food insecurity: Ethiopia (€22.5 million), Somalia (€8 million), South Sudan (€28 million) and Sudan (€8 million),” the statement said.

“It focuses on short and long-term solutions for vulnerable groups and combines measures for relief, rehabilitation and development.”

Neven Mimica, Commissioner responsible for International Cooperation and Development, said: “with these four actions we are providing an immediate response in the Horn of Africa. This clearly demonstrates the value of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa as a highly swift and responsive tool in critical situations.”

Droughts and other climate change-related occurrences are a major driver of displacement in the region.

To maximize the impact of EU action and to support a broader development response in the region, the package will be channeled through the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

The Trust Fund, which aims at tackling instability and addressing the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, is already delivering actions worth €370 million in the Horn of Africa region.

Foreign tourists free to travel as usual, affirms Ethiopia

ethiopia-tourism

Ethiopia affirmed that foreign tourists can travel to any part of the country as they had been doing in the past. Attorney General Getachew Ambaye noted on Monday (October 24) that tourists are not expected to notify to anyone to travel and visit attractions sites in Ethiopia.

The recently proclaimed state of emergency, as pinpointed under its directives, limited foreign diplomats from traveling beyond a-40 kilometers radius out of Addis Ababa without permission.

The Attorney General added, “The directive is not applicable to foreign tourists who come to Ethiopia to visit tourist destinations. They can travel from place to place freely as usual.”

Public Relations Director at the Ethiopian Tourism Organization (ETO), Getnet Yigzaw, also said tourists can travel to any part of the country in group or individually.

He underscored that the state of emergency has meticulously devised favorable mechanisms so that visitors could visit the historical and natural attraction sites of Ethiopia with no fear and trepidation.

Source: MFA Ethiopia

A Forum on “Doing Business with Ethiopia” held in Nordic Countries

A 20-member Ethiopian women business delegation led by First Lady Roman Tesfaye visited Sweden and Finland from 17-21, October 2016.

The delegation promoted Ethiopia’s export products (textile, leather and leather products, coffee and honey) and investment opportunities to the Nordic countries at a business forum organized under the title: “Doing Business with Ethiopia!”

First Lady Roman Tesfaye underscored the need for Ethiopian business communities to work in concert with their Swedish and Finnish counterparts in a bid to explore market opportunities through building and encouraging women entrepreneurs.

Woinshet Tadesse, Ambassador of Ethiopia to Sweden and other Nordic countries also briefed participants on a number of major themes, including Ethiopia’s double-digit economic growth over the last 10 years and the country’s second GTP as well as investment potentials.

Members of the delegation exhibited and promoted their products to Swedish and Finnish buyers as well as met with investors who are keen to import Ethiopian products to the Nordics.

During the event, YA Coffee, an Ethiopian coffee roasting company, signed a trade agreement with the Swedish FineBonan company.

sweden-forum-1

sweden-forum-2

Flag-Pins-Netherlands-Ethiopia

Netherlands pledges to support Ethiopia’s efforts to reduce poverty, unemployment

Ethiopian parliamentarians have conferred on 22 October 2016 with their Dutch counterparts here at the House of People’s Representatives (HPR) meeting hall.

During the discussion, both sides agreed to cooperate in reducing poverty and unemployment, which are the root causes for illegal migration and terrorism.

Tesfaye Daba, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Standing Committee with the House of People’s Representatives (HPR), told the Dutch parliamentarians that Ethiopia is working to ensure the benefit of the youth by designing youth-centered policy.

Ethiopia is currently hosting more than 800,000 refugees from various countries, he said, adding a lot is expected from the European Union and the Netherlands in particular in supporting the refugees.

Ethiopia, in collaboration with its partners, has been fighting against al-Shabaab, he said, adding the terror group is currently reduced to the level where it could not be a threat for peace in the region.

Commenting on current issues, Tesfaye said following the state of emergency declared by the government, the unrests occurred in some areas have now returned back to normal.

Tesfaye finally called for more investment from the Netherlands, particularly in floriculture sector.

Head of the Dutch parliamentarian delegation, Loes Ypma, said the Netherlands will support Ethiopia’s efforts to reduce poverty and unemployment. It will also work to further enhance its trade and investment relations with Ethiopia, Ypma added.

During their stay in Ethiopia, members of the Dutch parliamentarian delegation will visit various refugee camps.

Source: FBC

Travel Update – 18 October 2016

For those who have booked a holiday in Ethiopia, or who are planning to visit and who may be aware that Ethiopia has recently declared a state of emergency, you may wish to be informed of the current situation.

The temporary state of emergency is to maintain sustainable peace and stability in the country and is a precautionary measure. Visitor safety and wellbeing is of paramount importance in Ethiopia – the Land of Origins. There is a normal police presence, but no military personnel patrol the streets in Addis Ababa or elsewhere.

Ethiopia is visited by over 750,000 people from all over the world every year, and was named as the World’s Best Tourism Destination 2015 by the European Council on Tourism and Trade. Those travelling to the Land of Origins this season are assured of a trip as enjoyable as ever. It is as safe now for tourists and business visitors to travel in Ethiopia as it has been for the last twenty-two years since the new constitution have been introduced.

Travellers to Ethiopia will find that all tourist areas of the country are safe, with no curfews. Caution when travelling at the borders is advised, as it is with travel to the extreme western and eastern regions of the country. This is the normal advice, and is due to the relative instability of portions of neighbouring countries. Ethiopia’s reputation for welcoming, traditional hospitality is as justly deserved as always. Communications are working, with good internet connectivity and flights from 93 international cities providing business as usual.

The Ethiopian Tourism Organization always values its visitors and is there to ensure a pleasant stay for all.

For further information please refer to our Embassy’s websites, Ethiopian Tour Operator’s Association (www.ethiopiantourassociation.com), Ethiopian Airlines (www.ethiopianairlines.com),

Ethiopian Tourism Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Get more on http://www.ethiopia.travel/news-updates to watch personal testimonies and several videos and pictures of tourists visiting Ethiopia as we speak.

Read the full travel update by clicking here.