President Girma Holds Talks with UNWTO Secretary General ( May 3 ,2007 )


President Girma Woldegiorgis held talks on Thursday with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary General, Franchesco Frangialli, and his Deputy Taleb Rifai.

After conferring with President Girma, Frangialin said the discussion focused on tourism, poverty reduction and sustainable development.

He said tourism plays a major role in alleviating poverty by creating jobs.

UNWTO is executing three projects focusing on poverty reduction, erratic weather and biodiversity in Ethiopia.

 During the discusions focused on issues concerning lack of water, desertification, degradation of biodiversity, which are aggravating the situation.

Africa should use its cultural and natural tourist attractions as a tool to alleviate poverty, he said.

Minster of Culture and Tourism, Ambassador Mohamoud Dirir said the discussion focused mainly on tourist potentials of Ethiopia and its utilization.

The three projects being executed by the UNWTO, which are expected to bring a significant change would be implemented in areas with low tourism activities