Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ethiopian Tourism-Development
Travel as old as human being; Tourism is a component of travel All travels are not identical to tourism The tourist industry constantly reinvents itself in the world Debate on the origin of tourism in the world Group 1: Tourism as a modern phenomena- by product of industrializn. Group 2. Tourism came into existence since ancient times Group 3. compromising position on the advent of tourism
-Pre-tourism Travels(tourism-like activities); but tourism as modern(19thc). Pre-tourism period: travels in Europe lasted mid-19th century In other parts of the globe, it varies, lingered upto 20th century Implications to Ethiopian Context: Concept of Pre-Tourism travels
Tourism travels
Basic Factors Characteristic of tourism: Motivations or agitiating factors: Free time,money, popn growth,
Urbanization, Industrialization & Irrational factors
Impacts of supply factors:Attractions,communications Intermediating factors: tour operations, travel agencies, other facilities to entertain tourists Taking these basic criterias, travels by Ethiopians and foreigners from antiquity to the mid 20th c. envisaged as pre-tourism travels
Evolution of Tourism
Pre-tourism travels: Travels analogous to tourism 1.Ancient travels: pilgrims, traders and missionaries 2. Medieval Travles: pilgrims, explorers, delegates, military travels, 3. Modern Travels and Devt of Tourism
Zagwe Dynasty
11th-13th c: Sporadic Arab travelers: traders, explorers and ulamasArab geographers and historians left impressions of Ethiopia under powerful kings controlling Red Sea Coast; links to Yemen.
Eg. Abu Salih described Lalibelas Christian Kingdom
Zagwes: Era of Crusades; had amicable relations with the Muslim world, esp.Egypt & Yemen: helped them secure Ethiopian monasteries in Holyland Three major travels: Pilgrims; diplomatic envoys and business travels Business Travels: Ethiopian traders exported and imported goods to and from Alexandria; conducted to the rest of the world via Egyptians Camels employed as best means of transport by Ethiopian traders to Egypt Coptic Christians, often suppressed, were allowed to travel into Ethiopia Cases of foreigners travels by Coptic artisans, merchants and metropolitans visited Ethiopia; work related trips. Still cant be regarded as tourism Ethiopian diplomatic representatives traveling to Egypt to solicit for bishops Frequency of Alexandrian bishops for Eth.Orthodox Churches Rohas bid at replacing Jerusalem, as an Ethiopian Holyland: to ease problems of Ethiopian pilgrims crossing Muslim territories and the hardships
ii.French Explorers
Rochet d Harricourts dip.mission: Shawa; topography and geology of S.Ethiopia 1841: Ferret & Galiners Scientific mission: Adwa & Gonder - 1839-1843: Theodre Lefebvre: historical, archaelogical & ethnological obervations. - Antoine dAbaddie and Arnauld dAbaddie Bothers-spent many years, visited most important histrorical and cultural sites and ancient cities: language, history & peoples - Other adventurers: W.Munzinger; Lazarist & Capuccin missionaries - Assignment: Discuss Ethiopians (diplomatic, trading and pilgrimage) travels to Europe & Midleast ; - Characteristics of Domestic travels in Ethiopia, 1800-1855 - Compare & Contrast in relation to devt of toruism in Europe, first half of 19thc
-
Tourism Devt,1941-2008
Tourism as a modern concept and practice:post-Italian phenomenon Even in the wider globe, the popularization of travel came with industrialization and the growth of increasingly leisured middle classes
Three phases of Modern mass tourism in Ethiopia: First phase, 1941-1960: Sporadic flow of foreigners Second Phase: 1960-1991 Third Phase, 1991-2012 Tourism sector launched in 1960, the establishment and institutionalization of Ethiopian Tourism organization 1962-Modern organized tourist industry became operational First Ethiopian Tourist office inagurated in Addis Ababa Neglected during the first phases of Five year Devt Plans
Tourism devt:1960-1991
First five year devt plan, 1957-1962 In principle, foundation of tourism organization is the major event Yet, in practice, tourism is scarcely cited in the devt plan as an economic sector Little real attention given to tourism Second Five Year Det plan( 1962-1967): tourism had a very promising start Govt participation: in hotel bussiness and by borrowing to PVt sector Govt agencies bought shares in Hotel Devt: eg. Devt Bank, Investment Co.; Natural Resources Devt Share Co.; Ethiopian Airlines under Ethiopian Hotels and Tourism Investment Corporation (ETHIC) Three major Hotels developed By ETHIC: Hilton, Ras & Ethiopia Place of tourism: fourth as currency earner 1969: foundation of 1st Catering & Tourism Institute (to train professionals) Trained 83 graduates from 1969-1973 Darg Era:Mass Domestic tourism: Agerhen Eweq
Table 1:International Tourist Arrivals, 1961-67 Ayalew Sisay (2009) 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967
Europe
America Africa Others Total
11000
17374
9537
4371 2856 2722 19836
Receipts (in Birr) 6,680,640 12, 386, 640 14, 474, 418 18, 479,110
1976
1977 1978 1979
36,927
28,984 30,817 36,400
11.1
4.3 3.3 11.2
1980
1981 1982 1983
39,500
45,930 60,629 64,240
14.7
21.8 14.8 17.1
1986
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
58,529
73,144 76,450 76,844 79,346 81,581
10.4
29.6 39.6 42.9 52.3 39.0
Trends
International Arrivals after the revolution 1973 : Western European tourists= 32,000
Northern American t.= > 18,000; diminsihed to 9,000 and 3000 respectively Ethiopian Tourism badly affected during the years 1977-1981 It was worsely affected in 1984 Why such declining trends?
1983: 35, 000 Arrivals (from Africa- 33%; Europe >32%) 1974-1984: Annual decline of 2.1% Tourism contributed 5.3% of foregn exchange rate earnings 1974-1991= about US $380 million From 1985 Inbound Tourists grew speedily Stronger emphasis on domestic Tourism( long neglected) Domestic Tourism dept setup and played leading promotional role
Assignment
Compare tourist earnings trends with other chief export item commodites, 1960-1974
1974-1991 1991-1998 1998-2011 Anlayse its implications to domestic economy Its Social impacts Impacts 0n Employment Devt of Accomodation Facilities
Government priorities
The Govt governments aims to establish annual and long-term plans for tourism promotion, including: (a) The attraction of foreign visitors; (b) The improvement of tourist infrsuctructure and facilities; (c) Mapping and preservation of tourism resources; (d) The direction and supervision of tourism industry businesses; (e) Capacity building of tourism professionals; (f) Designation, development and promotion of tourist sites
Current Trends
Tourists are drawn to Ethiopias rich cultural and historical heritage Tourist arrivals to Ethiopia grew by a total of 50% over 2003-2008. This impressive increase can be attributed to the socio-economic development and relative stability of the country over the past decade or so. The most important reason cited by tourists for visiting the country is still its rich cultural and historical heritage. Ethiopia has a long and proud history that extends back to the known beginnings of humankind. For leisure tourists, the main attractions are Ethiopias unique culture and history, its magnificent scenery and archaeological sites, and the countrys diverse and exotic flora and fauna. Growing appreciation for these attributes continued to fuel demand for the Ethiopian experience among overseas visitors in 2008. The government has officially recognised the value of these national resources and taken steps to preserve them, such as with the setting up of the Ethiopian Cultural Heritage Project Infrustructure: Luxury Hotels, travel agencies and tour operators, car rentals suvenir shops are booming in Addis Ababa and capitals of historical routes Local Awareness about domestic toruism is growing
Tourism-one of fastest growing sectors in the 21st Century (over 2000% btwn 1960s and 2020). Role in poverty alleviation and economic development. Tourism-an underexploited market niche (2% of GDP). Comprise of two broad segments: Local segment:
Ethiopian nationals and institutions (locally resident or diasporans)-majority of tourist arrivals over 70%;
International segment: non Ethiopian persons and institutions-vacations, conferences etc)-currently very limited <30%.
Eco-Tourism scenario
Eco-tourism holds massive development potential in Ethiopia Ecotourism is still in its infancy in Ethiopia, but it holds significant potential for growth. The countrys biodiversity is quite unique compared to neighbouring countries, some of which are famous safari destinations. Ethiopias Protected Area (PA), which includes national parks, game reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and controlled hunting grounds, covers about 14% of the country. The protected areas offer eco-tourism and leisure activities such as wildlife viewing, trekking, mountaineering and bird watching. Ethiopias rich biodiversity is however under threat from communities who have access to these protected areas and who, through settlement, agriculture or livestock grazing, have damaged the natural habitats. In recognition of the deteriorating state of the PAs and the consequences of this trend, the government formed new policies and introduced legislation that is more supportive to the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of Ethiopias natural resources.
Accomodations
Ethiopia has a big, under-utilized tourist potential, formed by a mix of historic, cultural, archaeological, anthropological and natural attractions. It creates possibilities for cultural and educational tourism, bird and wildlife watching, water sports and recreation and trekking. Since 1999 tourism is growing at an average rate of 15 percent per year, reaching 227,000 foreign tourists in 2005. One of the problems that become visible as a result of the increasing tourism arrivals is the shortage of quality tourist accommodations. Ethiopian tour operators face big difficulties in getting accommodation for their clients, let alone modern accommodation. The so-called Historic Route between the ancient cities of Bahir Dar, Gondar, Lalibela and Axum comprises the most important tourists' sites in the country, attracting 45,000 international and 120,000 local tourists in 2005. It is important that the growth of tourism will happen on a sustainable way, based on the protection of the natural, socio-economic and cultural environment.
Discuss: the state of Tourism devt in Axum, Lalibella, Gonder, Bahir Dar, Awassa, The Rift Valley, Northern Afarland, Western Ethiopia
The Future
Future looks bright for Cultural, historical and religious tourism in Ethiopia Cultural or heritage tourism looks set to become an increasingly important revenue generator in Ethiopia over the forecast period. Since end of 2008, the devt of cultural tourism products and attractions was ongoing in several destinations across the country. Cultural tourism:becoming increasingly diverse, with the devt of niche areas such as religious tourism, architecture tourism, literary tourism and creative tourism. Though not a new concept, religious tourism is now being recognised as having a major overlaps with cultural tourism. This is particularly pertinent to Ethiopia, where people travelling for religious motives, including pilgrims, also have a strong interest in the countrys culture and heritage. While Ethiopia will always have a strong religious appeal, new products such as spiritual & retreat holidays should help to strengthen & accelerate the devt of cultural tourism towards 2015