Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London
Italy Provides €1.7 Million to Support Community-Based Tourism and Heritage Conservation in Tigray
Mekelle, October 3, 2018 E.C. (Tigray Television)
The Government of Italy has announced a financial assistance package worth €1.7 million to support the rehabilitation and development of tourism in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The initiative, titled “Supporting Community Resilience through Community-Based Tourism and Heritage Conservation in the Wukro-Gheralta Belt, Tigray, Ethiopia,” aims to promote sustainable development through cultural preservation and community participation.
According to the Tigray Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the project’s budget will be allocated to several key areas, including the restoration of ancient monasteries such as Abreha we Atsbeha and four additional monastic sites, the protection and conservation of natural heritage, the construction of an information and visitor center, and the development of tourism infrastructure. The program will also include training and capacity-building activities to strengthen local engagement in the tourism sector.
The funding, provided by the Government of Italy, is being implemented under an agreement with the Ministry of Finance of Ethiopia.
Head of the Tigray Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Atsebeha Gebreegziabher, praised all individuals and institutions that participated in the design and preparation of the project. He expressed special appreciation to General Tsadkan Gebretinsae for his contribution and support in facilitating the initiative.
Officials from the Bureau noted that the project is expected to play an important role in the social and economic recovery of Tigray, creating employment opportunities, improving tourism services, and enhancing the competitiveness of the region’s tourism industry.
The initiative reflects a broader effort to strengthen community-based tourism as a tool for heritage conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and regional resilience in post-conflict areas.
Internationa tourists are attending Abrha we Atsbha Rock Hewn Church Annual Feast 2025
Meanwhile, Abrha we Atsbha Rock Hewn Church Annual Feast 2025 is being held today, drawing worshippers, pilgrims, and visitors from across the region to commemorate the historic and spiritual significance of the site.
