Ethiopian Review

Mekele – The Tigray State Trade, Industry and Transport Bureau announced that more than 57,460 tourists visited cultural and historical tourist attractions in the state over the past budget year.

The Axum obelisk, Mekelle town, ancient and religious sites were among the attractions visited by the tourists, Marketing and Research Expert with the Bureau, Gebregziabeher Naiezgi, told WIC.

About 20,300 of the tourists have come from the United States, Europe and other countries, the expert said, adding that over 50 million birr income has been obtained from the tourists.

The number of foreign and local tourists visited the attractions in the state during the budget year is higher by 14.4 percent and 64 percent, respectively, from that of the preceding year, according to the expert.

The expert attributed the better performance to the promotion works carried out in connection with the celebration of the Ethiopian Millennium and the coming back home of the Axum obelisk from Rome.

Moreover, the modern hotels constructed by private investors have also contributed in attracting more tourists to the state, he added.

- WIC