PRESS RELEASE

Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) revised its website travel advisory on Ethiopia, as of December 2.

The FCO no longer advises against “all but essential travel to the Amhara and Oromia regions”, with the exception of the woredas (districts) of Tsegede, Mirab Armacho and Tach Armacho in North Gonder.

The revised advisory will have a positive impact on tourism, particularly in the run-up to the Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas, Genna, (7^th January) and Timkat (Epiphany, 19^th January) celebrations, which attract vast numbers of tourists from across the world, contributing up to $30 million in revenue.

Background

Ethiopia declared a six-month nationwide temporary state of emergency in early October, following the unrest that occurred in some areas of the country, to maintain sustainable peace and stability in the country, as a precautionary measure.

Ethiopia is visited by over 750,000 people from all over the world every year, and is the only African country to be featured in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel for the year 2017. Those travelling this season are assured of a trip as enjoyable as ever. It is as safe now for tourists and business visitors to travel in Ethiopia as it has been for the last twenty-two years since the new constitution was introduced.

Ethiopia’s reputation for welcoming, traditional hospitality is as justly deserved as always. Communications are working, with good internet connectivity and flights from 95 international cities providing business as usual.

Germany and Belgium lifted their travel warnings almost two weeks ago.

—ENDS—

For further information contact the Press Office on press@ethioembassy.org.uk; Tel: 0207 838 3883/0.

For travel information, visit the Ethiopian Tourism Organisation website.