AUC Chair: Wenchi-Dendi Eco Tourism Village exemplary for other African countries

Addis Ababa, January 13, 2024 (FBC) – The Wenchi-Dendi Ecotourism Village is a good example to be followed by other African countries, Chairperson of African Union Commission (AUC) Mussa Faki Mahamat said.

Recall that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed yesterday received the AUC Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Workneh Gebeyehu and members of the diplomatic corps on the eve of inauguration of the Wenchi-Dendi Ecotourism Village.

It is also known that the Wenchi-Dendi Ecotourism Village has been inaugurated today in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy, First Lady Zinash Tayachew, the AUC chairperson, the IGAD Executive secretary, ministers, regional chief administrators, diplomats, local residents, and other guests.

Being inspired by Wenchi ecotourism project, Moussa Faki said the landscape is wonderful, nature is preserved, this is very important and added “I want to ask local authorities and the population to preserve this treasure and it is a wealth to be preserved.”

Stating that it is an ecotourism and it is very important to preserve this wealth, he said at the same time, giving the opportunity to the local population to see prosperity and development is also so encouraging.

“So it is a very wonderful project and I encourage the Prime minister and the government and the population at large to keep going.”

Highlighting that ecotourism is a great opportunity for Africa, he said at the level of the African Union, we are trying to promote tourism in our continent but it should preserve at the same time the ecosystem.

“Before coming here I did not imagine in Ethiopia this kind of landscape. Discovering this part of Ethiopia is very amazing. I am very surprised and at the same time, very pleased,” he stated.

Stressing promoting this kind of ecotourism and involving the local population is a very good choice, the AUC chair said “So we have to encourage it and it is a good example to be followed by other African countries.”

Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Workneh Gebeyehu said for his part that Wenchi is one of the naturally endowed areas in Ethiopia where its beauty is now generating income for the local community beyond attracting visitors within Ethiopia and across the globe.

Natural tourism needs investment, which the government has pioneered in executing this project by its initiative, Workneh said, adding the private sector has a huge role to follow suit.

Noting that Africa is endowed with natural tourism and historic tourism resources in general, he said northern Ethiopia is well known for historic tourism as well as central and South Ethiopia.

Ethiopia’s natural tourism has not yet been well explored like Wanchi, Sof Omar, Bale mountains among others, the executive secretary noted the significance of investment to fully exploit Ethiopia’s untapped tourism potential, ENA reported.

Similarly, U.S Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Massinga said “I have been in many places around the world, I have seen many beautiful natural spots and this one is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.”

So, I feel very privileged and much honored to visit this new spot here in Ethiopia, the ambassador affirmed.

For the ambassador, job opportunities and building infrastructure, tourism can contribute so much and bring additional value to those who have been living in this splendor for so many years.

So many opportunities are provided by small bits of infrastructure that we have seen here today, he said, adding Africa can learn so much from what we have seen here in terms of realizing tourism potential.

“From what I understand these public investments are small steps forward to encourage the private sector both here in Ethiopia and internationally to come and follow this example,” Ambassador Massinga underscored.

The Wenchi-Dendi Project was an initiative of PM Abiy Ahmed launched in 2021.