Addis Ababa: Ethiopia is endowed with significant natural resources and potential for developing geoparks and geotourism, foreign visitors said. The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), organized a training program this week for international experts under the theme “The Role of UNESCO Global Geoparks and Geotourism for Sustainable Development.”
According to Ethiopian News Agency, heads of federal institutions, regional and city administrations culture and tourism bureaus, Ethiopian professionals in the sector, and UNESCO experts from various countries visited selected tourist destinations following the training. Among the sites visited were the Tiya stelae and the Melka Kunture Balchit archaeological and paleontological sites, along with nearby geological heritage sites in the Central Ethiopia region.
UNESCO Natural Sciences Program Specialist, Ozlem Adiyaman Lopez, noted the astonishing sites she witnessed during her visi
t. She remarked on the historical significance of the stones and the active protection efforts by the local community. Her presence in Ethiopia aimed to introduce the new UNESCO concept of Geoparks, which showcases the formation and community connection of these stones.
Bakari Manaya from Tanzania highlighted the educational importance of the areas he visited for understanding human origins. He commended the Ethiopian government and people’s efforts in site preservation. UNESCO Natural Science Expert, Sophie Justice, underscored the global significance of geological heritage and the necessity of geoparks and geotourism for sustainable development. She encouraged ongoing efforts to protect the environment and community for future visitors.
Craig Makunzim from Rwanda praised Ethiopia’s geo-heritage conservation and the local community’s awareness of the sites. He emphasized the importance of this for both the community and tourists, suggesting the need for additional research.
Ethiopia possesses numerous ge
otourism sites, including Sof-Omar Cave, Geralta, Konso, Afar, Bale Mountains, and Semien Mountains National Parks. The Ministry of Tourism is working to have these sites, which showcase geological formations, registered by UNESCO as geoparks.