ADDIS ABABA: The Ministry of Innovation and Technology in Ethiopia has underscored the potential of astro-tourism as a significant catalyst for the growth of the tourism industry. This emphasis was made during the opening of the African Planetarium Association (APA) Biannual Workshop held in Addis Ababa.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the workshop is aimed at promoting and fostering astro-tourism and the development of planetariums in Ethiopia and across Africa. Belay highlighted the rural areas of African countries as having a substantial potential for astro-tourism, which could positively impact the socio-economic landscape of these communities.
Ethiopia's Homegrown Economy Reform has facilitated the implementation of legal frameworks that foster digitization, research, innovation, and technology, linking them with astronomy. Belay stated that astro-tourism not only serves as a tool to promote the tourism industry but also helps in preserving astronomical sites, heritages, indigenous knowledge, and dark sky policies.
Sally Macfarlane, Chair of the APA, noted that the workshop is designed to build capacity, create networks, and share knowledge to address challenges and leverage opportunities in the sector. The workshop also serves as a platform to collectively tackle obstacles impeding the growth of planetariums in Africa and to devise strategies to overcome these challenges.
Over the next two days, the workshop will focus on identifying specific challenges, including technological, financial, and educational hurdles, and collaborate to find innovative solutions, share best practices, and establish partnerships.
Ethiopia is recognized for its potential in astro-tourism and planetarium development. The recently constructed dome theater in Addis Ababa, which is the largest in Africa, is a testament to this potential. This theater, part of the Science Museum in Addis Ababa, can accommodate up to 200 people and is equipped with advanced projection and sound systems.