The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) conducted its 2019 “out of country” meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The decision to hold the meeting in Ethiopia “came after realizing that Ethiopia was among the top ten emerging tourist destinations, and tourism has been increasing significantly,” said Terry Dale, CEO of the Association.
The Associations stay in Ethiopia, which lasted a week, among other things, had an annual meeting focusing on achievements of the association for 2019’s first quarter, and setting direction for the rest of the months of the year. Some forty active members of the association attended the meeting, as they also hoped to assess the business potential in Ethiopia.
The members of the Association furthermore discussed with local tour operators to explore ways of building partnership. The Association’s CEO applauded Ethiopia on being on the right track regarding the tourism, mentioning the industry in Ethiopia now generates $7.4 billion and has created two million employment opportunities. Mr. Dale further noted, “The responsibility of the tour operators will be that they go back to their organizations share what they experienced, and they will start creating product; identify the hotel to use, the attraction they want to have part of the experience, how much this is going to cost and they start marketing it.”
Ethiopia’s Travel and Tourism Economy grew by 46.8 percent in 2018, the largest of any country in the world, according to World Tour and Tourism Council’s review on the economic impact and social importance of the sector.
“In this regard, we can be helpful in telling the story of the country back in the United States,” The Association’s CEO added.
Delegates of the Association have met with Lensa Mekonnen, General Director of Tourism Ethiopia, Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, and President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde.
President Sahle-Work Zewde told the delegation that her government is doing its level best to boost tourism in Ethiopia. Tourism Ethiopia’s General Director Lensa Mekonnen, on her part, remarked Ethiopia has the potential to be a favorite tourist destination for U.S nationals; while Ethiopian Airlines’ Group CEO said it is a good opportunity to establish a partnership with the association since “[Ethiopian is] planning to launch a campaign of promoting Ethiopia as a tourist destination in the United States.”
Founded in 1972, USTOA is a professional nonprofit professional association with a primary purpose of promoting integrity within the tourism industry.
Top Image: Delegates of the Association with President Sahle-Work
Sources: ENA, Fana BC
Image Source: Fana BC
