His Excellencies Ambassador Mohamed Drir Minister of Culture and Tourism Ministry
Her Excellencies W/r Tadelch Dalocho State Minister of Culture and Tourism Ministry
Federal and Regional States higher officials represented here,
Members of the Press,
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Today marks the culmination of a successful and eventful week which we have focused national attention to tourism potential in the country and particularly in SNNPRS.
I believe that within the past six days of travel, the people of this Region have found again how well gifted they are in terms of tourism attractions including cultural, historical and natural as well as the products thereof. I also believe that many members of the community now aware what each one of them should do to protect, develop, and wisely utilize the resources as well as get economical benefit from the growing tourism industry in the country.
This year world tourism day theme “Tourism-Celebrating Diversity” highly harmonizes with the context of our Region. As the name of the SNNPRS indicates, the Region is ‘a home of diversity’ talking up more than 56 nations’ nationalities and people and each of them has their own colorful culture, language, norms, and life styles together with the diverse oral traditions, social practices, traditional crafts, arts, indigenous knowledge, and other living expressions. The Region is also endowed with wide spectrum of wildlife resources protected in seven National Parks, two Wildlife-Reserves, one wildlife Sanctuary and six Controlled Hunting Areas as well as 10 Important Bird Areas. It is fortunate that the Region holds rich diverse resources, which are the bases for the development of tourism industries for the benefits of the people and the country as a whole.
The Regional government has given strong attention to safeguard the cultural historical and natural resources of the Region and change it for social and economic development through promoting sustainable tourism development. That is why, now we have decided to restructure and establish a separate culture and tourism bureau considering the vast nature of activities as well as the role of this thriving sector to the Region’s development.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Currently, the domestic tourism industry sector is gradually developed and we now have more Ethiopian people taking up traveling as part of their lives and involved in various tourism investments in both small and large-scale enterprises in the Region.
This World Tourism week visit is very important to us because it will no doubt generate increased interest of people in our tourism products and would create a very good opportunity for the development of tourism investment and domestic tourism in the Region. People can easily share experience in this event and furthermore create an opportunity to know our diverse, kind, & hospitable people and promote the various tourist attractions sites that the Region has to offer. As you, all know international tourism is very important in interim of hard currency earnings but it is very sensitive related with external influence (insecurity) such as global terrorists’ threats or natural disasters, which commonly affect international tourist arrival. Conversely, domestic tourism can withstand such threats supporting the industry from harsh conditions.
In conclusion, I would like to appreciate the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the selection of the SNNPRS to host the year national world tourism week. Undoubtedly, the SNNPRS is a home of diversity, which can properly, responds to the meaning of this Year World Tourism Day theme i.e. “Tourism-Celebrating Diversity”, as well as satisfy the needs of all traveler attending the various events organized by eight Zones, three special woredas and Hawassa town (the capital city of the region) of the Region.
I wish to thank all those who have ensured that we have very successful events of National World Tourism Week
I thank you! |
