Page 47 - Abyssinia Busniess Network November 2019
P. 47

ABN:  How  did  you  begin  your   despite its abundant and unique   called  Courage Ethiopia  in 2013.
             business  in  tour  and  travel   tourism potential,  it doesn’t    This initiative was accompanied by
             business?                         properly unleash these sources.   a portal web site tourism directory
                                               This was really  annoying and     which was visited by 7.5 people and
             Zelalem:  While growing up in     disturbing me at that moment. I had   also tourist guide book which had
             Addis  Alem where many tourists   to investigate the needs of visitors   a  twenty  thousand  circulation  per
             used to visit the tourist attractions   regarding  quality  and  standards   edition.  This tourist guide book or
             such as the Menelik  Palace  and   of good tourism  operation. So   magazine had been in publication for
             Saint  Mary Church, I had the     my  job  was to  upgrade  the  ways   nearly four years until 2017.
             chance to get insight into what   and approaches in the business
             tourism mean, what local guides   through  recruiting  well-trained   The  tourism  industry  needs  a
             were  doing.  Moreover, I was     professionals for Zelalem Tour and   sustainable  and  effective  promotion
             working at a garage where vehicles   Travel Agent.                  so that the country could benefit from
             of  tour  operators  had  been  fixed.                              the sector. As it’s called a smokeless
             This  also  had  an  impact  on  my   ABN:  What  about  the  job   industry, it is the only economic
             interest in tourism.  Then I was   opportunity  your  company  has   sector that the country could earn
             hired by a tour and travel company;   created  for  citizens,  and  the   good  foreign  currency  without
             while  working at  this  company  I   vehicles the company is using?  spending  money  on it.  I strongly
             continued  my education  on tour                                    believe  that  we have done our
             operation supervision in extension   Zelalem: Zelalem Tour and Travel   level  best to promote  the  country’s
             program.I had worked only for two   Agent has created job opportunity   tourism.
             years here.  When tourists made   for  nearly  twenty  five  permanent
             attempts  to tip me I used to tell   and freelance  employees  working   “We  are  now  mainly  producing
             them that I would have my own     with not less than eighteen different   different  superior  quality  leather
             tour and travel company, and you   quality and up-to-date vehicles the   jackets,  gym  bags,  travelling  bags,
             would  help  me  then.  I  first  ran  a   industry currently require.  ladies  bags,  hand  bags  toilet bags,
             car rental business; then I decided                                 cosmetics  bags,  various  male  and
             to start operating my own tour and   ABN: You are also well-known for   female wallets, and other products.”
             travel  Company  in  2008.This’s   your contribution to the promotion
             how all began.                    of  the  country’s  tourism  sector.   ABN:  What  honors  and  awards
                                               Tell us about this.               have  you  received  so  far  for  your
             ABN: So, how did it go?....I mean                                   effort in promoting and doing tour
             how was the business then?        Zelalem: Of course, I was strongly   and travel business?
                                               motivated to promote the nation’s
             Zelalem:  You know I was well     tourism potential at the outset; so   Zelalem:  I   have,   indeed,
             aware of the fact that Ethiopia,   I had to launch  a  sister  company   received  various recognitions and

              A W A R D























                                                                    Abyssinia Business Nework ህዳር   2012  / November   2019  45
   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52