Ethiopia has earned US$663.7 million from tourists who visited tourists sites across the country during the just ended Ethiopian fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Speaking at the opening of a consultative meeting in Robe Town, Bale Zone of Oromia Region on Monday, State Minister Tadelech Dalecho said the revenue was secured from more than 629,000 foreigners, who visited historical, natural and religious attractions in the country.

Tadelech said the sites include, among others, the Semien Mountains National Park, rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, GereAlta mountains, Axum palace, Bale Mountains National Park, Konso landscape, the Jegol Wall of Harar as well as the Castle of Emperor Fasil. Tadelech said, the revenue has grown by 37 per cent while the number of tourists grew by 7.8 per cent compared to the past year.

The Ethiopian government has targeted to earn USD three billion from more than one million foreign tourists, who will visit the country until the end of the the five year Growth and Transformation Plan.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency