By Abdi Ali
Published August 14, 2019
An event that promotes travel and tourism business across Africa returns to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in September 2019.
Known as Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF), the two-day conference and expo shall bring together owners, investors, financiers and managers in the hotel industry to brainstorm, network and establish partnerships for business.
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With a rapidly growing national airline, new hub airport, relaxed visa regulations and the country being the political centre of the African Union, Addis Ababa is a strategic location for travel, tourism and hotel business.In fact, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that Travel & Tourism not only accounts for more than half (61 per cent) of Ethiopia’s exports but that it is growing by 48.6 per cent.
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Abebe Abebayehu, commissioner with Ethiopian Investment Commission, says that by hosting AHIF that ‘attracts the highest calibre group of business leaders in the hospitality industry in Africa,’ Ethiopia hopes to ‘get a much deeper understanding of what investors need’.
“By encouraging more investment in hospitality projects,” Abebayehu says, “we will create productive employment for our young population and earn valuable hard currency.”
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Matthew Weihs, managing director of Bench Events that organise AHIF, says, “Ethiopia is a centre for political meetings in Africa and a fast-growing transport hub. That already makes it attractive to hotel investors. The government’s declared interest in prioritising tourism will further increase the attractiveness, along with its renewed enthusiasm for collaboration with the business community.”
AHIF, one of Africa’s leading tourism and hotel investment conferences, shall be held September 23 – 25, 2019.
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