Ethiopia Secures Safe Travel Stamp

February 6 , 2021

Ethiopia has been granted the safe travel stamp given to countries that have complied with Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) health and hygiene protocols by the World Travel & Tourism Council. The validation, a result of a collaboration between the government and the private sector in implementing protocols, is expected to further revive the tourism sector amidst the pandemic. The stamp is intended to restore confidence in travelers and revive global travel and tourism by allowing for easy identification of safe destinations. The Ministry of Culture & Tourism along with Tourism Ethiopia, the Addis Abeba Hotel Owner's Association, the Hotel Marketing Association, and the Ethiopian Chef's Association, crafted the Ethiopian Tourism & National Safe Travel Protocol aimed at ensuring safe travel in the country in mid-2020. Prepared following international guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), the Protocol has four broad sections of applicability. The first three focus on tour operators, attraction sites and hospitality establishments, while the remaining section is applicable to meetings, incentives, conferences & exhibitions (MICE). The Council was established in the 1980s with the aim of representing the travel and tourism sector globally; and prioritising security and travel facilitation, crisis preparedness and management, and sustainable growth.