Why not more tourism in Ethiopia?

Question

Ethiopia is a beautiful country with friendly, pro-western population, and an incredible history with a number of sites to visit.

They have the Simean Mountains, a part of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Tana (the headwaters of the Blue Nile, and source of most of the Nile River's water), great coffee plantations in the south (source of some of the world's finest coffee), the palaces of Gonder, the incredible hand-carved obelisks of Aksum, the Christian Orthodox churches of Lalibella which were carved into solid rock, and much much more.

The culture is rich, with color, traditional dance, a beautiful language (and beautiful women), good prices for travelers, and a pro-western, nominally democratic government.

Many people there speak English a little at least. They are hospitable, and will honor you with a traditional coffee ceremony.

With all this going for it, why is tourism not huge in Ethiopia?

Answer 1

I know what you mean. Ethiopia is very rich in calture and definetly a place to see. People are very frendly and just like you said they are pro-western. I think the problem is peoples understanding of the contry from the past. The county has come a long way from that devistating disaster from the 80s. People have no clue of the change. You know how westners think about Africa. They think it's still corupt, unsafe and very poor. It is a stigma problem

Answer 2

I think most people know of Ethiopia from either the famine in the 80s or the war with Eritrea (or even the more recent violence in Somalia) so image-wise, people don't see the cultural and historical parts of Ethiopia to know that they would want to visit.

There's still a general ignorance about Africa in general. Finally, flights to Addis aren't that cheap compared with other major cities in Africa so that could discourage some people from flying there since they might not be able to spend that much and choose a cheaper place.

I was first in Ethiopia in 1997 and it's still one of my favourite places in Africa.

Answer 3

The current war with its neighbors doesn't help. Also during the 1980s this country was associated with miserable famines that most remember for those poor children starving to death.

Answer 4

i totally agree with u...i think b/c its just in africa..i mean ppl just dont like it... i blame tv and other stuff like that they give people this idea that africa is just a savanah with lions and zebras..i think thats BS it pisses me off...im from ethiopia and ive heard many people make stupid remarks about africa
and i just say they just havent been there b4....
i wasnt born there but i went there and fell in LoVE with it

Answer 5

What do you call an ethiopian with a yeast infection?

A quarter pounder with cheese. Get it?

Answer 6

NO ADS....HOW WOULD PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THEY CANT SEE ALL THE GOOD THINGS THERE.....MORE ADS......;