World Bank2013-08-292013-08-292012-10https://hdl.handle.net/10986/15489This study analyzes strategic intervention options that can inform the implementation process of Ethiopia s national tourism development policy in an effort to make the sector globally competitive. It also outlines the analytical foundations for technical assistance that will be provided to Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MoCT) by the World Bank-funded Ethiopian Sustainable Tourism Development Program (ESTDP). This study uses the world economic forum tourism and travel competitiveness index and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Doing Business report to benchmark Ethiopia s tourism competitiveness with respect to that of countries such Tanzania, Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa. It also draws lessons from and measures the tourism sector against other successful national economic sectors, such as floriculture. The focus of this study is on competitiveness at the value chain and destination levels. It identifies constraints affecting competitiveness and proposes strategic interventions that can help to address these challenges by taking advantage of existing opportunities. This study is mainly prepared for Ethiopia s tourism policymakers, particularly in MoCT. Secondary audiences include tourism-related ministries and public institutions, such as the Ministry of Trade and Investment, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, among others. Tourism sector stakeholders, in particular the private sector, as well as training institutions and donors are also targeted as readers. Having the national tourism policy as its main reference, this study focuses on short-term strategic interventions that can help to improve tourism competitiveness under the major pillars outlined in the policy. It also emphasizes growth and employment generation in line with current national targets and priorities as described in the Government of Ethiopia s national growth and transformation plan 2010-11 and 2014-15.en-USCC BY 3.0 IGOaccommodation facilitiesAfrican tourismAirlinesartisansauthenticityawareness raisingbasicBiodiversity ConservationBusiness developmentbusiness servicesbusiness travelcapacity-buildingcapital citycitiesconservationConservation of NatureConservation Strategycraftcraftscultural activitiescultural heritagecultural industriesCultural Organizationcultural policiescultural policycultural productscultural sectorcultural tourismcultural tourism resourcescultural touristsculturescustomsdestination managementdestinationsdomestic tourismdomestic tourism Marketdomestic touristseco-tourismEconomic DevelopmentEconomic GrowthEcotourismeducational tourismemployment generationentrance feesEntry pointsexcursionsfishingforeign visitorsglobal tourismheritageholidaysHotelHotel Associationhotelsindigenous communitiesinduced impactsindustrial sectorinternational tourisminternational touristinternational tourist arrivalsinternational tourist marketinternational touristsjoint ventureslearninglegal frameworkleisureleisure tourismleisure touristleisure touristsliteraturelodgingMinisters of TourismMinistry of TourismNational Biodiversity Strategynational parknational parksNational Tourism PolicyNational Tourism Strategynatural assetsnew Tourism Developmentnumber of touristsperceptionspreservationprotected areasquality of lifequality tourismquality tourism productsreal estateregional tourismResortsresource managementrestaurantsretail tradeservice providersservice sectorservice sectorssocial developmentsocial justiceSocial ServicesSustainable TourismSustainable Tourism Developmenttechnical assistanceTourtour operationtour operatorTour OperatorsTour Operators AssociationTOURISMtourism assetTourism Boardtourism businesstourism businessestourism chaintourism companiesTourism concessionsTourism Counciltourism dataTourism demandtourism destinationtourism destinationsTourism DevelopmentTourism Development Projecttourism development strategiestourism employmenttourism enterprisestourism expendituretourism experiencetourism fairstourism flowstourism growthtourism incometourism industrytourism infrastructuretourism investmenttourism markettourism marketplaceTourism organizationTourism Plantourism plansTourism policiesTourism Policytourism potentialTourism productsTourism Professionalstourism projectstourism receiptstourism resourcesTourism Satellite AccountTOURISM SECTORtourism servicestourism stakeholderstourism strategiesTourism Strategytourism studiesTourism trainingtourism trendstourism value chaintourism workforceTouristTourist accommodationTourist arrivalstourist destinationtourist expendituretouriststravelerstriangulation of dataUnemploymenturban areasUrban povertyUtilitiesvisitorsVocational EducationWildlife ConservationWorld HeritageWorld Heritage SitesWorld TourismWorld Tourism OrganisationWorld Tourism OrganizationWorld TravelWorld Bank10.1596/15489