Tourist guides ready to welcome guests of AU Summit, upcoming holidays

Addis Ababa, December 28, 2024 (FMC) – The Ethiopian Tourist Guides Professional Association has announced its commitment to welcoming guests attending the upcoming holiday festivals, as well as the African Union (AU) summits, with the genuine spirit of Ethiopian hospitality.

Endy Assefa, President of the Ethiopian Tourist Guides Professional Association, stated that the Association has undertaken necessary preparations to successfully host visitors.

According to him, the members of the Tourist Guides Association are dedicated to providing maximum hospitality, from the airport to the tourist destinations, for visitors attending the upcoming holidays and the AU Summit.

The city tour package includes VIP services in Addis Ababa and its surroundings and to ensure the highest level of services. It is collaborating with various key organizations, including the Ministry of Tourism, Ethiopian Airlines, hotels, immigration, and others, he told local newswire service ENA.

He emphasized that Ethiopia is home to several UNESCO intangible heritages, including the upcoming Epiphany Festival, which holds significant potential to attract tourists from around the world.

Endy also stressed the importance of providing internationally standard services professionally, noting that the Association has organized training on foreign languages, prehistory, and archaeology, in collaboration with relevant bodies, to enhance the skills and knowledge of the guides.

The concept of stopover tourism, which is a growing international trend, is also being implemented in Ethiopia. He mentioned that passengers transiting through Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines are offered city tours, which are significant for the tourism sector.

Furthermore, Addis Ababa has become a hub for conference tourism, with international standard conference centers being built, he added.

Tourism has received more attention than ever and is now considered as one of the main pillars of Ethiopia’s economy, Endy said, in this regard, the government has been making significant efforts to develop new tourist destinations in the capital and across the country.

The newly developed tourist destinations in various parts of the country play a vital role in expanding the sector’s capacity and in building a positive image of the country, he underscored.

Kbrom Tesfaye, Deputy President of the Association, also emphasized, “We are committed to providing tour guide services for the participants of the AU Summit and the attendees of the Christmas and Epiphany Festivals, depending on their interests, while adhering to Ethiopian hospitality culture.”

The Association is committed to collaborating with stakeholders to ensure all guests receive comprehensive services, he added.

Speaking specifically about the AU Summit, he noted that it presents a great opportunity to enhance tourism activities among African countries.

With the ECA and AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the city is positioned as a significant hub for conference tourism, he continued.

While Ethiopia has great potential for conference tourism, it has not been fully realized in the past due to the limited number of developed tourist destinations.

However, with the development of new destinations, such as Unity Park, Entoto Park, the National Palace Museum, and ICT Park, the city tour packages in Addis Ababa have been significantly enhanced.

While Ethiopia possesses significant potential for conference tourism, this potential has not been fully realized in the past due to a limited number of developed tourist destinations. However, the recent development of new attractions, including Unity Park, Entoto Park, the National Palace Museum, and ICT Park, has significantly enhanced the appeal of city tour packages in Addis Ababa.”

As tourists have varying interests depending on their backgrounds, the newly developed tourist destinations, along with modern lodges, will cater to these diverse needs, he said.