Arba Minch University, Ethiopian Space Science Technology Institute (ESSTI) and Ethiopian Geospatial Information Institute (EGII) having inked collaborative agreement now set out on a venture to develop prerequisites for tourism industry like soft and hard inventory map, designated website and mobile app for tourists who till date are guided to potential attractive destinations by unorganized players in the sector.  Click here to see the pictures

As of now, all partners are engaged in a yearlong project, ‘Developing a Tourism Inventory Map of Gamo and South Omo Zones’ with professionals from across board contributing in their respective capacities to materialize their intended plans. The partnership will exploit EGII’s acumen of mapping, ESSTI’s remote sensing and AMU will play host and coordinating agency to boost tourism in these two zones, reiterated the focal person and School of Graduate Studies’ Director, Dr Abera Uncha.

He added that the rationale behind teaming up for this cause was simple as there wasn’t any designated infrastructure in place like comprehensive tourist map, info on hotels, restaurants, resorts, guides and itinerary; and despite this, tourists continue to flock exciting destinations in these zones. Hence, to support government’s effort we have taken responsibility to formalize this sector by developing requisites, he said.

Dr Abera said, our aim is to develop comprehensive tourism inventory for Gamo and South Omo Zones in this regard professionals from partnering institutions have held the program in Addis Ababa. During the program, he informed the dignitaries that huge numbers of tourists are flocking these zones that generate huge revenue. And tourism being one of the key areas of government, it becomes our bounden duty to contribute substantially from our side that will benefit these zones and nation at large.

In this dispensation, AMU will act as host and coordinating agency while two partners are collaborators. A steering committee has been constituted by AMU; ESII and ESSTI will continue to push their innovative ideas through technical committees, he added.

It’s learnt that initially project will incur ETB 3 Million for stipulated annual activities of mapping tourist destinations, developing website and mobile App. Soon, this information hub will be promoted all across via audio-visual and print platforms that he feels it will formalize and correspondingly stimulate tourism sector and more tourists will flock to these aesthetic locale thus boosting revenue, Dr Abera averred.

As per agreement, AMU-EGII tie-up is to establish a platform for cooperative institutional relationship that will promote technical bilateral relations on geospatial, research and development for mutual benefit and further it will be reciprocated by both partners.

On other hand, AMU-ESSTI collaboration is meant to ramp up human resource development, institutional capacity, collaborative research, development program, transfer of technologies, exchange of staff and graduate students for training, partnership and mentoring; and data sharing from geospatial and remote sensing solutions in allied arenas will help them archive results.

Dr Abera was speaking in the wake of signing Memorandum of Understandings between AMU, EGII and ESSTI where tourism and culture sectors of formers while Department of Geography & Environmental Studies from AMU will collaborate on the project. The MoUs were signed by Dr Damtew Darza, EGII and ESSTI Director Generals’ Dr Tulu Besha and Dr Abdissa Yilma, at Senate Hall, Main Campus last year.

(Communication Affairs Directorate)