Ethiopia’s Lepis Eco-Tourism Village named UNWTO 2023 Best Tourism Village

Addis Ababa, October 19, 2023 (FBC) – The Lepis community-based eco-tourism site near Arsi Negele town in Oromia Region has been named among the World’s Best Tourism Villages 2023 by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Lepis has been named the Best Tourism Village during the UNWTO General Assembly, taking place this week in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The Lepis ecotourism site has won the accolade for leading the way in nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions.

Located some 242Kms from Addis Ababa to the South, Lepis ecotourism site incorporates several attraction sites including a horse trekking, a mountain range covered a dense forest, a mesmeric river, an enthralling water fall and a vantage point for bird-watching.

“Tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity, empowering local communities and distributing benefits across regions,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili during the recognition ceremony.

By Wondesen Aregahegn