Addis Ababa Sets Sights on Global Tourism With Urban Renewal and Industry Dialogue
Addis Ababa is embarking on an ambitious journey to position itself as a vibrant and globally competitive tourism destination, signaling a new era for Ethiopia’s capital and the wider region’s travel industry. City officials have launched an integrated approach, combining renewed political commitment, institutional reforms, and transformative urban projects to make Addis Ababa a premier gateway for international visitors and business events.
This forward-thinking agenda was underscored with the opening of the first Addis Ababa City Tourism Forum, a landmark event that has brought together a diverse mix of tour operators, hotel owners, government representatives, and tourism strategists. The two-day dialogue provides a platform for stakeholders across the sector to tackle pressing challenges, seize emerging opportunities, and collaboratively shape a shared vision for the city’s tourism future.
Speaking at the forum, Buzena Alkedir, Speaker of the Addis Ababa City Council, highlighted that Ethiopia’s wealth of tourism assets had often been overlooked due to a lack of coordinated action and dialogue. “Despite our immense tourism endowments, there has been a gap in coordination and dialogue,” Buzena observed. She explained that the forum is designed to close this gap, enabling key players to develop a unified strategy for making Addis Ababa a competitive and attractive destination.
Key objectives identified at the forum include strengthening public-private collaboration, fostering industry innovation, improving access to finance for tourism businesses, and enhancing marketing and promotional activities. The event also aims to facilitate information sharing across the sector and address persistent challenges, such as infrastructure gaps and service quality.
The City Administration’s intensified focus on tourism is closely linked with ongoing urban transformation initiatives. Projects such as corridor development and riverside enhancements have already begun to yield visible results, contributing to increasing numbers of both domestic and international visitors. These upgrades are not only beautifying the city but also making it more accessible and appealing to a new generation of travelers seeking urban experiences, culture, and business opportunities.
Hunde Kebede, Addis Ababa’s Tourism Commissioner, emphasized that tourism is now recognized as a strategic economic sector within Ethiopia’s homegrown reform agenda. With the federal government’s backing, the capital is seeing the rollout of large-scale tourism projects championed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. “Tourism is now treated as a strategic economic sector,” Hunde noted, pointing to the dual benefits of sector growth and enhanced international image for Ethiopia.
These investments include not only the revitalization of existing landmarks but also the construction of grand conference halls and the advancement of major urban corridors and riverbanks. By blending infrastructure improvements with destination marketing, Addis Ababa is seeking to boost its profile as both a leisure and meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) destination. The city’s evolving skyline, improved transport corridors, and enhanced public spaces are set to offer a compelling backdrop for events and tourism experiences alike.
Recognizing the importance of coordinated leadership, the city has recently established the Addis Ababa Tourism Commission. This body is tasked with overseeing tourism promotion, destination development, hospitality standards, and stakeholder engagement. Its mandate is to ensure that all efforts are aligned towards a singular goal: turning Addis Ababa into a city that is both internationally competitive and authentically Ethiopian.
Among the Commission’s early initiatives is the promotion of both new and existing tourism sites through digital platforms. The recently launched “Visit Addis Ababa” website and active social media campaigns are being complemented by the development of a city-specific mobile application, aimed at providing real-time information for visitors. These tools are designed to broaden the city’s reach, making it easier for international travelers and African partners to discover Addis Ababa’s diverse offerings—from historical sites and vibrant markets to contemporary art and culinary experiences.
The momentum generated by this forum and the city’s reforms is expected to create a ripple effect across the African tourism landscape. For industry professionals across sub-Saharan Africa, Addis Ababa’s strategy offers a compelling blueprint: leverage political will, invest in infrastructure, prioritize collaboration, and harness digital innovation to stay competitive in a rapidly changing tourism environment.
As Addis Ababa intensifies its drive to become a leading frontier city for tourism, the opportunities for regional partnerships, product development, and cross-border promotion are set to multiply. For those in Africa’s tourism sector, the city’s transformation presents a timely reminder to align business strategies with emerging industry trends and to seize the potential offered by urban renewal, digital engagement, and visionary leadership.
