AMN Plus-July 12, 2026
Speaking at the Addis Ababa City Council’s 4th Regular Session of its 5th-Year Council Meeting, Addis Ababa Mayor Her Excellency Adanech Abiebie said the city has undergone a remarkable transformation in tourism destination development over the past five years. Backed by strong government support, Addis Ababa has evolved from a city where travelers merely passed through into a vibrant destination where visitors choose to stay and explore.
Speaking on the city’s tourism achievements, the Mayor noted that the number of domestic tourists has increased from 4.1 million to 10.5 million, while international visitor arrivals have surged from 123,489 to 1.2 million over the past five years.
She added that the city’s tourism sector has also generated remarkable economic returns. Revenue from international visitors rose from 5.63 billion birr to 242.6 billion birr, while domestic tourism contributed an additional 63.3 billion birr to Addis Ababa’s economy during the same period.
The Mayor further stated that, in the current fiscal year alone, Addis Ababa successfully hosted 221 international and continental conferences. Participants attending these events were given opportunities to visit the city’s major tourist attractions and flagship development projects, further strengthening Addis Ababa’s reputation as a premier tourism destination and conference hub.
Highlighting the city’s growing international engagement, the Mayor said Addis Ababa has expanded its network of sister-city partnerships from 20 to 30 cities over the past five years.
According to her, these strategic partnerships have strengthened the city’s diplomatic and economic relations while creating valuable opportunities to exchange best practices, innovation, and modern urban development experiences.
Mayor Adanech also underscored Addis Ababa’s growing international recognition for its Smart City initiatives and urban transformation. Among the city’s major achievements are:
The School Feeding Program Award received in Rio de Janeiro
The Seoul Smart City Prize (2024) awarded in South Korea for the city’s leadership in smart urban development
The C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Award, presented in Buenos Aires for significant improvements in solid waste management; and
Africa’s Best Smart City Award (2024), presented at the Africa Smart Cities Investment Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Mayor further noted that Addis Ababa has become a member of the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Network and has also earned a Gold Medal in an international city competition for its outstanding achievements in road safety and speed management.
“These international recognitions reflect Addis Ababa’s comprehensive progress and play a vital role in enhancing the city’s positive image on the global stage,” the Mayor said.
By Birhanu Workneh