Tourism development should benefit Ethiopian local communities, Ethiopian Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa said at the Gena celebration, the Ethiopian Christmas festival, in Lalibela, a historical city renowned for its rock-hewn churches.
The minister also stated that partnerships with organizations like UNESCO are vital to improving infrastructure and access to the Amhara Region's cultural heritage sites, adding that these improvements and cultural festival promotions will help attract more visitors.
Furthermore, Selamawit Kassa added that boosting tourism investment and service providers will generate foreign currency and strengthen Ethiopia's economy. She also emphasized Ethiopia's ambition to become a leading African tourist destination by enhancing its global profile through inclusive development and the use of technology.