According to the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ethiopia earned more than $1.8 billion from tourism in the first half of this Ethiopian fiscal year, which ended on last Monday, January 8, 2018.
A total of 485,806 foreign tourists have visited the country during the past six months. The country’s rugged mountains (some 25 are over 4000 meters high) broad savannah, lakes and rivers, the unique Rift Valley and volcanic lakes, birdlife and the Blue Nile falls are some of the natural attractions in Ethiopia.
The medieval city of Gondar, with more castles, palaces and churches; the ancient capital of the Queen of Sheba and Ethiopia’s holiest city, Axum, where the original Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments was seen, are the other tourist attractions in Ethiopia.
The Minister said the revenue secured in this half year surpassed by 10.8 percent, compared to the same period last year.
She attributed the successes to the collaborative efforts between her ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as other stakeholders in promoting the tourist attraction sites of the country.
Ethiopia targets to earn $4.5 billion from tourism this fiscal year.
http://apanews.net/index.php/en/news/ethiopia-earns-18b-from-tourism-in-half-year/
