Addis Ababa, November 25, 2024 (2017 E.C.) – The Lalibela City Culture and Tourism Office has revealed that 45 hotels in the city have completely ceased operations due to security concerns arising from ongoing conflict between government forces and Fano militia in the Amhara region.
According to Deacon Addise Sisay, the office’s head, the instability has not only halted hotel operations but has also left over 180 tourism workers unemployed. Speaking to Deutsche Welle, he emphasized that the tourism sector’s decline has significantly impacted the city’s economy, which heavily relies on it.
Estifanos Qelemu, head of the Lalibela Tourist Guides Association, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the community depends almost entirely on tourism for its livelihood. He noted that disruptions over the past four years—first due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later due to recurrent conflicts—have caused severe challenges for local businesses.
Deacon Destawe Abebe, a tourism professional, shared that the area previously engaged over 25 tourist associations but now faces widespread closures, leaving nearly all tourism-related activities at a standstill.
Despite these challenges, the Amhara Regional Culture and Tourism Bureau reported over 2 billion birr in revenue from domestic and international tourists during the first quarter of the fiscal year. However, this figure was largely attributed to other areas unaffected by the conflict.
The bureau also noted that income from tourist activities typically includes spending on accommodations, food, guided tours, and souvenirs. These services have been severely disrupted in Lalibela due to the ongoing instability, affecting its overall economic activity.
Source: Addis Standard
