Page 16 - Abyssinia Busniess Network November 2019

What are the challenges the sector faces
Photo file /EHRSE/
14 Abyssinia Business Nework ህዳር 2012 / November
this time around?
There are so many challenges. The first
one is the government and the leaders do
not well understand the sector. The hotel
and tourism sector has great potential in
creatingjob opportunities, and generating
high foreign currency source. The others
challenge is lack of getting foreign currency
for purchasing finishing materials as well
as the deteriorating peace and security in
some part of the country. Moreover, at
sectorial level we are not working together
as a private sector. Our federation has been
creating platform to bring about change in
the sector.
What about the prospects ahead?
We are working to solve those challenges
and to use the opportunities. As you know
we have organized the 1st National Hotel and
Tourism Conference in collaboration with
the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This
conference aimed to discuss the position of
this sector by comparing with other countries
and expected stage with the government
and the partners. The conference was so
successful. We raised different questions
and recommendations to the government
by considering the sectorial challenges and
the government was represented by the
deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, Regional
Presidents and City Mayors.
Tell us briefly about the upcoming the
Hotel and Tourism conference to be held
in Hawassa?
The pushing factor and plan to organize
the hotel and tourism conference is the
declining of the hotel and tourism activities
in Ethiopia, which is mainly due to different
unrest and lack of peace following the
reform in the country. As well known lack of
peace firstly affected the hotel and tourism
sector. It aims to motivate and to witness
that the cities are peaceful and comfortable
for tourists by rotating the conference to
Hawassa,Bahir Dar, Mekele and Oromia
2019