Tourism Revenues Reach 155 Billion Birr as Foreign Visitor Numbers Surge in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, February 6, 2026 (FMC) — Addis Ababa has registered a significant economic gain from tourism, with foreign visitors injecting 155 billion Birr into the city’s economy over the past six months, Mayor Adanech Abiebie announced.

Presenting a tourism performance report to the Addis Ababa City Council during its fifth-year, second regular session, the mayor said the results reflect the capital’s rapid transformation into a leading tourism, conference, and events destination on the African continent.

The report shows that 699,761 foreign tourists visited Addis Ababa during the six-month period, generating the 155 billion Birr in tourism revenue.

In the same period, the city also received 4.9 million domestic tourists, highlighting Addis Ababa’s growing attractiveness as both a national and international destination.

The mayor attributed the strong performance to the development of new and upgraded tourism sites aimed at maximizing the sector’s social and economic benefits. She noted that public and religious street festivals, as well as the rising popularity of sports and health tourism, have played a key role in driving visitor growth.

She further said that ongoing development works and flagship mega-projects designed to position Addis Ababa as a major hub for conference and event tourism have contributed to a sharp increase in high-level gatherings hosted in the city.

According to the report, nearly 150 international and continental events were held in Addis Ababa over the past six months alone, marking a 50 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

The figures underscore tourism’s expanding contribution to Addis Ababa’s economy and reinforce the city’s growing status as a gateway destination for Africa.