December 29, 2016

Happy New Year!

Make time to visit the Land of Origins in 2017! Ethiopia will give you a wealth of discovery to stimulate your senses and satisfy your curiosity. 

The Ethiopian Tourism Organization invites you to experience two upcoming unique century-old religious festivals with the warmest of welcomes. 

Ethiopian Christmas (Genna) which will be celebrated on January 7th 2017, is unique and wondrous everywhere but particularly special at the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, where thousands of pilgrims come from all over the country to participate in the colorful midnight mass where priests chant and dance along to rhythmic drum beats.

December 15, 2016

In the last quarter of 2016, the Ethiopian Tourism Organization, together with respective Embassies of Ethiopia, and a representative agency Interface Tourism, organized three road shows in France (Paris), Spain (Madrid) and Italy (Milan). At each destination, a press presentation and a BtoB workshop was conducted. The Ethiopian Tourism Organization was successful in introducing Ethiopia as an emerging travel destination to over 150 European tour operators and travel agents, as well as to approximately 100 travel journalists/bloggers (print and online). 

December 2, 2016

Ethiopia successfully hosted the eleventh session of the UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, that took place in Addis Ababa from 28 November to 2 December 2016. Out of 37 nominations, the Committee inscribed 33 new elements on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Ethiopia's Gada system, an indigenous democratic socio-political system used by the Oromo people, has been inscribed and becomes the third intangible cultural heritage that has been listed from Ethiopia so far with UNESCO.

November 20, 2016

The annual Great Ethiopian Run (GER) took place in Addis Ababa on November 20th 2016. Over 40,000 professional and amateur long-distance runners, including 200 international participants attended the race. The GER considered being Africa's biggest fun run was a success and a testimony that the diplomatic capital of Africa can host and accommodate large-scale special events.

November 9, 2016

The Ethiopian Tourism Organization, together with Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopian tour operators and hoteliers participated at World Travel Market (WTM London), the leading global event for the travel industry from November 07 to 09, 2016. WTM London is a unique opportunity for the global travel trade to meet, network and conduct business under one roof. In addition to the three-day networking event, the Ethiopian Tourism Organization and Ethiopian Airlines hosted a press conference and answered inquiries related to travel advisories and trends. 

October 24, 2016

Social Media Testimonial from Piper Mackay, a tourist that recently visited Ethiopia 

"Last night, I returned from two weeks of travel through Ethiopia, from the south to the north and in and out of Addis three times. Anywhere I went the country was at peace. Anywhere I went, I felt totally safe. I would have no problem boarding a plane tomorrow and spending a few more weeks in Ethiopia. I thought I would share my recent experience of boots on the ground. When state departments put out warnings against these countries they really hurt tourism and all the people who depend on tourism. I see this over and over in the African countries I travel in and live in. The biggest example is how the ebola outbreak was covered. It devastated tourism throughout Africa and yet there were no cases in east or south Africa. When there is a horrible event in the US such as the bombing at the Boston Marathon, there are no travel warnings against the US or Boston. Honestly, there are more people gunned down on US soil than all the African Countries I travel in, put together. We need to keep proper perspective of what the media is selling and the media needs to be more responsible in what they are reporting."

Original Facebook Post Link

October 25, 2016

Lonely Planet's travel experts have recommended Ethiopia as one of the world’s top destinations for next year in LONELY PLANET’S BEST IN TRAVEL 2017.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel/countries

"With its own calendar (where else can you get 13 months of sunshine?), timekeeping, script, language, cuisine, church and coffee, Ethiopia is as exotic as countries come. And whether you’re trekking through the Simien Mountains to witness wildlife that roams nowhere else on Earth, climbing to a church carved into a remote cliff face in Tigray or boating across the serene waters of Lake Tana to visit an age-old monastery, you’ll be overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscape. In 2017 new airline links will make the country more accessible than ever, so be one of the first to hop on board."

October 20, 2016

View our new photo collection of tourists visiting Ethiopia in the month of October 2016
https://www.flickr.com/photos/landoforigins/albums/72157675450800355

If you want us to include your photos, please send an email to social@ethiopia.travel

October 19, 2016

See what tourists are currently saying about Ethiopia
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLqLEv7Qxu-3bjWfjjdZnzXE_zGCtxM79

The Ethiopian Tourism Organization invites leisure travellers and/or business groups to book their trip to Ethiopia with confidence. As it has always been in the past, our guests’ safety and security is our first priority. We would like to assure all travellers that our tourism destination sites across Ethiopia remain safe.

October 18, 2016​

For those who have booked a holiday in Ethiopia, or who are planning to visit and who may be aware that Ethiopia has recently declared a state of emergency, you may wish to be informed of the current situation.

The temporary state of emergency is to maintain sustainable peace and stability in the country and is a precautionary measure. Visitor safety and wellbeing is of paramount importance in Ethiopia – the Land of Origins. There is a normal police presence, but no military personnel patrol the streets in Addis Ababa or elsewhere.