Chinese Tourist Number Steadily Increasing – Ethiopian MinistrySeptember 29, 2017 - Ethiopia received 41,660 Chinese tourists in 2015, up from 35,383 in 2012, stated Kasshaun Ayalew, an expert at Ethiopia Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MoCT). The Ethiopian expert also said that although Chinese tourist number was lower than those of American and British tourists, the two largest groups of tourists received by Ethiopia, Chinese tourists tended to stay longer and spend more. Ayalew said despite Ethiopia facing political turbulence in 2015 and 2016, the number of Chinese tourists visiting its attractions had increased in contrast to western tourists.The ministry, however, said hospitality institutions are struggling to meet in particular the dietary needs of Chinese tourists, putting a brake on an even faster increase in the arrivals of Chinese tourists. MoCT is yet to finalize tourist arrivals figures by nationalities for 2016, but Ayalew said he expects the Chinese tourists' figures for 2016 to be greater than 2015. Ethiopia earned 3.32 billion U.S. dollars from 886,897 tourists that visited the East African country during the Ethiopian Fiscal Year (EFY) 2016/17 that ended July 8.

Source: Ethiopian News September 29, 2017 18:45 UTC