What is the story behind the unprecedented influx of Saudi tourists to Ethiopia?

SadaNews - On a grassy slope, three Saudi tourists mounted horses heading towards Lake "Wenji" which lies quietly at the bottom of the valley, while one of them took out his phone and began sharing scenes of nature with his followers, a sight that is unusual in this town located in southern Ethiopia.

A local resident says that children initially gathered around the tourists as they passed by, as the scene seemed strange to the town. However, he noted in his conversation with Al Jazeera Net that with the repetition of visits and the increasing number of tourists, it has become a familiar sight given the unprecedented influx of Saudi tourists in the region.

Not far from the town of "Wenji", scenes of Saudi tourists crossing a wooden bridge built over a seasonal river in the "Bole Belbela" area north of Addis Ababa have become common, while others preferred to sit in noticeable numbers in the cafes of the vibrant Bole Street in the capital, illustrating their growing presence in the country.

Although Ethiopia was not among the usual tourist destinations on the Saudi tourism map, it has recently witnessed a noticeable increase in visitors from Saudi Arabia.

Social media platforms such as "TikTok", "Snapchat", and "Instagram" have been filled with hundreds of clips and photos documenting Saudi tourists' trips, expressing their amazement at the stunning nature and atmosphere they discovered.

Khalil Arab, a Saudi influencer, says that the secret behind this remarkable influx is due to the role played by influencers in exploring Ethiopia and encouraging their fellow citizens to visit.

He explained that hundreds of photos and clips shared by influencers revealed a magical nature, and since most Saudis come from regions with a hot climate, they greatly appreciate the scenes of greenery, rainfall, and the cool weather that characterizes Ethiopia.

Khalil added that every Saudi influencer who visited Ethiopia was not alone, but accompanied by thousands of their followers virtually, creating a state of "pre-experience", where the Saudi tourist no longer travels to the unknown, but to places visited by their friends and followers.

He pointed out that this created the impression that Ethiopia is a country worth visiting, a sentiment reinforced by what influencers conveyed about the locals and their spontaneous treatment of tourists, away from arrogance or automated interactions devoid of human touch, as he described it.

For her part, Lina Mohamed, a travel and tourism office manager, stated that the reasons for the unprecedented influx of Saudi tourists are due to several factors, including the reform of the visa system, allowing Saudis to obtain a visa on arrival, which granted them flexibility and speed in making travel decisions.

The increase in the number of direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia, with three daily flights, also contributed to providing multiple options.

Lina explained that Ethiopia has recently witnessed qualitative improvements in its tourism infrastructure, including the development of roads, pathways, and facilities, in addition to tourist sites within and outside the capital, contributing to a diverse travel experience.

She added that Ethiopia's geographic and cultural proximity to Saudi Arabia, along with its reasonable prices, has enhanced its appeal to Saudi tourists, as she expressed it.

It is worth noting that the government performance report presented by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed before parliament last month revealed that more than 1.5 million people visited tourist destinations in the capital, generating revenues exceeding half a billion Ethiopian birr (approximately 3.59 million USD).

The report also indicated that the tourism sector experienced growth of 40% over the past two years, thanks to the improvement of tourism infrastructure and the expansion of Ethiopian Airlines' network to include 136 destinations.

Source: Al Jazeera