· Xinhua
Ethiopia's Addis Ababa sees nearly 700,000 int'l arrivals in 6 months
Summary of the Xinhua report
Addis Ababa received 699,761 foreign tourists in the first half of the 2025/26 Ethiopian fiscal year, 15% more than a year before, says Mayor Adanech Abiebie. The visitors brought 155 billion birr in revenue. The city also counted 4.9 million domestic tourists. Nearly 150 international and continental events took place in the six months, a rise of 50%.
Key points
- Addis Ababa received 699,761 foreign tourists in six months, a 15% increase on the same period a year before.
- Tourist inflows generated 155 billion birr in sector revenue, according to the mayor.
- The city counted 4.9 million domestic tourists, above its target of 4.7 million.
- Nearly 150 international and continental events were held in the city in the six months, 50% more than a year before.
Real.et analysis
Xinhua reports, in a story published by The Star, that 699,761 foreign tourists visited Addis Ababa in the first six months of the Ethiopian fiscal year that started on July 8, 2025. That is 15% more than in the same period a year before. Mayor Adanech Abiebie gave the figures in the half-year report of the city. The visitors brought 155 billion birr in sector revenue. The city also counted 4.9 million domestic tourists, above its target of 4.7 million. Nearly 150 international and continental events took place in the city in the six months, 50% more than a year before.
What this means for visitors
Addis Ababa is busier than before, mainly because of conferences. When a large meeting is on, hotel rooms near Bole, Kazanchis and the African Union fill first and rates rise. If your dates are fixed, book early. If they are flexible, ask the hotel which weeks are quiet. Our hotel directory lists hotels by area and grade.
The mayor links the growth to new and upgraded places to visit. The report does not name them. Places that opened in the city in recent years include Unity Park and the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum. Our museums guide and the page on things to do in Addis Ababa help you plan.
What this means for residents and hosts
The 4.9 million domestic visitors show that Ethiopians from other regions also come to the city in large numbers. Parks and museums can be crowded on weekends and public holidays. Weekday mornings are usually quieter.
More visitors could support demand for guest houses and furnished flats near the conference areas. Demand moves with the event calendar, so income is not even through the year. Our guide to furnished apartments in Addis Ababa describes that market.
Background
The figures come from the city administration and were not checked by an independent body in the report. The mayor also names festivals, sports and health tourism as reasons for the rise. She expects current development projects to bring more visitors and more international meetings.