Where is the World’s Best Tourism Destination?

Where is the World’s Best Tourism Destination?

We can pretty much guarantee it’s not where you are right now, nor where most of you have ever travelled to.

130603141537-ethiopia-acid-pools-horizontal-large-gallery

This year’s World Best Tourism Destination as voted by the European Council on Tourism and Trade isn’t Australia, America, Austria or Amsterdam, it’s somewhere most of us are likely to never have travelled to, or even considered travelling to.

Ethiopia. Yes, we had to read that twice too.

The country stood out for its outstanding natural beauty, dramatic landscapes and ancient culture, CNN tells us, leading the Council to pick it out of 31 other countries listed on this year’s top holiday destinations.

The surprising candidate has welcomed a 10% increase in visitors over the past decade, with 600,000 tourists travelling to Ethiopia in 2014.

Ethiopia has nine UNESCO world heritage sites and tourism contributed some 4.5% to the country’s GDP last year alone, generating almost a million jobs and over US$2 billion in revenue according to the World Bank.

150323115212-ethiopia-38-exlarge-169 130603140236-ethiopia-volcano-horizontal-large-gallery 120202070341-lalibela-ethiopia-horizontal-large-gallery 130625153852-lalibela-ethiopia-church-st-george-horizontal-large-gallery 130625154520-lalibela-ethiopian-priests-monks-timkat-horizontal-large-gallery

Images: CNN

Latest News

  • News

Collette special offers across peak northern summer season

Global tour operator Collette has announced a series of special offers on selected dates across a range of tours in the peak northern hemisphere 2024 summer season. Greece The offers include ‘Greece & Its Islands’ features classics such as the Parthenon as well as the picturesque islands of Mykonos and Santorini. A saving of $700 […]

  • Aviation
  • News

Air India and All Nippon codeshare between the two countries

Air India and All Nippon Airways have signed a codeshare agreement connecting their networks. The new commercial partnership will provide more travel opportunities for customers of both India’s leading global airline and the largest Japan’s largest carrier. Effective from 23rd May, the Air India and All Nippon Airways agreement will see passengers fly to their […]

  • News

A&K offers minimum 18 weeks paid parental leave

A&K Travel Group will now provide a minimum of 18 weeks paid parental leave for both care-givers, setting a new standard for the travel industry. By providing 18 weeks of paid time off for all new parents, regardless of gender, A&K Travel Group is not only enabling parents to spend valuable time with their newborns […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]