A delegation comprised of the representatives of the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ethiopian Regional Tourism Offices, members of Tourism Standing Committee and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ethiopia Team paid a visit to Turkey to exchange views and learn about Turkish experience on tourism.

Currently working on the formulation of a national policy framework on inclusive and sustainable tourism, an Ethiopian delegation comprised of the representatives of the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism, public agencies involved in tourism and UNDP Ethiopia Team paid a visit to Turkey to exchange views and learn about Turkish experience on tourism.

Hosted by UNDP Turkey, the Ethiopian delegation visited many local, regional and national institutions and organisations, and met with the representatives of private sector and civil society in order to review on site the sustainable community-based tourism practices, the policies of the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the state of the sector in Turkey, and mutually assess possibilities for cooperation.

The Ethiopian delegation reviewed on site the “Troy Culture Route” (Çanakkale), “Local Flavours of Edremit with Nar Kadın” (Edremit, Balıkesir), and “A Day in Ovacık Village” (Şile, Istanbul) projects, all supported under the Future is in Tourism programme.

Having also the opportunity during the site visits to interact with and obtain information from the local people and public institutions, the delegation was informed on how the supported local projects contributed to women’s empowerment, creating employment, protecting the environment and developing sustainable tourism.