Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the cancellation of flights by the Ethiopian Airlines Group has resulted in a decline of 35.5% in the number of international arrivals in the country, as reported by the JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group.

The Ethiopian Airlines Group flies to more than 80 destinations worldwide from Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian Capital. The report emphasized that international visitors that had come to Ethiopia from 2014 to 2019 had yet to exceed one million. As of March 2020, international arrivals dropped year-on-year to 118,950, mostly due to flight cancellations by Ethiopian Airlines.

Findings of the Report: Developing the Tourism Industry

The report published by the JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group highlighted the importance of progressive economic growth and increased foreign investment in positively impacting corporate demand for Ethiopia’s hotel sector. The report also pointed out that Addis Ababa was expected to witness an increase in NGO, corporate, and diplomatic demand over the coming years.

An overview of the Ethiopia Hotel Industry was also released by the Global Real Estate Investment and Advisory Firm, which examined the elements that make Ethiopia an exclusive tourist destination. The report also looked into the effect of COVID-19 on tourism and beyond.

The released report stated: “Even though Ethiopia is witnessing a decrease in tourism this year, it still holds immense potential. Other than being home to nine world heritage locations, the government has also emphasized on tourism being a significant contributor to economic progress, and is progressively making plans to improve investments in the tourism sector, along with addressing the potential challenges investors might face.”

The report also said: “The poor hotel infrastructure present in some of the main tourist destinations in the country provides vast opportunities to develop lodges and hotels for attracting domestic and international visitors.”

Initiatives for Growth

Among the novel initiatives introduced by the Ethiopian government to develop the investment, the landscape includes hassle-free visa policies, which will enable both nationals and residents from the 55-member African Union (AU) to obtain a visa on arrival easily.

There are currently 21 internationally trademarked hotels being developed in Ethiopia, which in theory amounts to an additional 4,300 rooms, increasing foreign exchange and boosting the economy.