The Ethiopian Wildlife Development and Conservation Authority has announced that it is prioritizing the enhancement of the tourism sector by improving infrastructure in national parks that have previously been overlooked, including Gambella.

In an exclusive interview, Kumara Waqjra, Director-General of the Authority, said that the authority is committed to promoting the multi-faceted economic growth of the tourism sector by expanding infrastructure in the national parks.

He explained that the national parks have significant natural bio-diversity that could serve as major tourism attractions; however, these resources have not been properly utilized, and the sector has not reached its full potential due to lack of attention in the past.

The Director-General emphasized that national parks, such as Gambella, have yet to achieve the desired benefits largely due to limited development beyond the Northern Mountains and Nech Sar National Parks, noted that special attention is now being given to the sector to change these situations.

Tourism, he pointed out, is a key component of the country’s efforts to implement a diversified economy so that significant efforts are being made to develop and utilize the rich bio-diversity of national parks to boost the tourism industry.