Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, attracted nearly 700,000 foreign tourists from July 2025 through January 2026. This was announced by the city's mayor, Adanech Abiebe, during a session of the city council on February 6.
"In total, over the past six months, our city was visited by 699,761 tourists from ... foreign countries, which brought the economy 155 billion Ethiopian birr (approximately 1 billion US dollars)," she stated.
Furthermore, during the same six-month period, Addis Ababa hosted 4.9 million domestic tourists from other regions of Ethiopia. Overall, the growth of the tourism sector in the capital, according to Abiebe, reached 15% compared to the same period last year.
"Significant contributions were made by the public and religious cultural festivals held in the city, as well as the development of sports and wellness tourism. ... Over the last six months, about 150 international and intercontinental events were held in Addis Ababa. This is a 50% increase compared to the same period last year," noted the Mayor of Addis Ababa.
This surge in tourism and events highlights the city's growing role as a major hub in Africa. In November 2025, the capital hosted the Great Ethiopian Run—a 10 km race through the center of Addis Ababa, accompanied by a festival celebrating the country's culture. The landmark 25th edition of this sporting event saw participation from over 55,000 people, further solidifying the city's appeal for international visitors.