On its second day, the Ethiopian Pavillion at the ITB 2025 served as a venue for Panel discussion on the strategic importance of Museums to Ethiopia’s tourism sector i.e. the role of museums as a tool for dialogue and catalyzer of inclusive development.
The Panel discussion brought together German and Ethiopian tour operators, academia and the German-based Society for the Promotion of Museums in Ethiopia (SPME) represented by Dr. Konrad and Nina Melcher. The event is organized by Ethiopian Embassy in Germany, Ethiopian Tour Operators Association and the Society for the Promotion of Museums in Ethiopia.
Panellists of the event: Dr. Konrad Melchers, president of the Society for the Promotion of Museums in Ethiopia (SPME) and Ato Fitsum Gezahegne, President of the Ethiopian Tour Operators Association presented on Ethiopia’s museum and heritage landscape, tourist attractions as well as their sustainable management. They seized the occasion to call upon the Participants of the event to visit Ethiopia and see for themselves Ethiopia’s tourist attractions.
In his welcoming statement, State Minister Sileshi highlighted the measures being taken by the Ethiopian government to Prioritize tourism sector as one of home- grown economic reform agenda. He emphasized on the optimization of museums so that tourism plays its part as a driver of economic growth and Prosperity in Ethiopia.
Ambassador Eskindir on his part emphasized the importance of the event in Promoting Partnership between Ethiopia & Germany in the field of tourism and to familiarize Ethiopia in Germany as ” Land of Origins”. He expressed thanks to co-organizers for their Partnership in Promoting Ethiopian museums. The Panel discussion was moderated by Mr. Thomas Gerkmann, Ethiopia’s Honorary Consul to the German city of Bremen.
The Ethiopian traditional Coffee Ceremony corner has attracted more and more visitors, and several consultations with visitors, tour operators, international media and promoters were conducted with a view to familiarizing Ethiopia’s immense tourism Potential.
