The Addis Ababa Tourism Commission has announced that the capital hosted more than 150 major national, continental, and international events in the 2024/25 fiscal year.

According to Commissioner Hunde Kebede, thousands of participants attended these events, a sharp increase compared to previous years. In the past, Addis Ababa hosted only a limited number of large-scale gatherings, mainly those associated with the African Union. Today, the city is regularly accommodating events ranging from small groups to up to 10,000 participants.

This expansion was largely driven by investments in tourism infrastructure and corridor development across the city, the Commissioner stated. The Addis International Convention Center has played a significant role in drawing conference tourism and now serves as a major attraction in its own right.

The growth in international and continental events is also fueling the service and hospitality sectors. While only a few institutions once offered standard services for conference attendees, there are now hundreds. Some events have attracted as many as 15,000 participants, reflecting the private sector’s growing investment in infrastructure and signaling a strong revival of the service industry.

The development of key attractions, including the Adwa Victory Memorial, Unity Park, Friendship Park, Science Museum, National Palace, Entoto Park, Addis International Convention Center, the National Museum, and Addis Ababa Museum, has further boosted the city’s appeal and significantly increased tourist inflow.

Source: Addis Zemen