Tourism Sector Thriving as Government Introduced Vital Initiatives, Says PM Abiy.

Addis Ababa: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed highlighted the remarkable growth of the tourism sector that is attributed to the conducive environment fostered by various government initiatives. Addressing to members of the parliament today, Premier Abiy added that key projects such as Dine for Ethiopia, corridor developments and among other government initiatives transforming the country's tourism ecosystem.According to Ethiopian News Agency, these enabling environments have created a thriving atmosphere for tourism sector development, the Prime Minister elaborated. Moreover, he emphasized the significance of cultivating those ongoing initiatives of the nation to promote the tourism industry."It is time that we reap the benefits of activities previously undertaken," he stated, underscoring the government's commitment to sustaining this momentum. Notably, over the past three months, the country has hosted 20 international conferences-an impressive increase compared to the previous year.This surge in conference tourism is seen as a vital component of the overall tourism strategy, with plans to continue this trend moving forward, he pointed out. For PM, this demonstrated the tourism development activities including corridor development and initiatives have been bearing fruits by attracting continental and international events.In addition to promoting tourism, the Prime Minister announced ambitious plans to expand Ethiopian Airlines' services. A mega airport is set to be constructed, which will enhance the airline's capacity and connectivity. Furthermore, the government has ordered 124 new airplanes for Ethiopian Airlines, positioning it for greater operational efficiency and service expansion.With these initiatives in place, the Prime Minister expressed confidence in achieving a projected 7.1 percent growth in the service sector. The strategic focus on tourism and aviation is expected to play a pivotal role in reaching this target, reinforcing the government's dedication to economic development and international engagement, the prime minister underscored.