By Abukar Osman - Reporter
Ethiopia, 24 December 2025 Addis Ababa is seeking to boost its tourism sector by prioritizing medical tourism as a key driver of growth, as part of broader efforts by the city’s administration to improve the quality and range of healthcare services.
Speaking to local media, Addis Ababa’s Tourism Commissioner, Honde Kebede, said tourism should not be viewed solely as leisure travel, but rather as a broad concept encompassing academic tourism, business tourism, leisure tourism, and medical tourism. He noted that, under the internationally recognized definition, any person who stays outside their usual place of residence for more than 24 hours and less than one year is considered a tourist.
Kebede pointed to successful experiences in countries such as India and Thailand, which have emerged as global hubs for medical tourism, describing them as models Addis Ababa can learn from. He added that the Ethiopian capital is already witnessing growing momentum in this area, with large numbers of people traveling from across the country to Addis Ababa to access medical services.
More from Ethiopia
According to the tourism commissioner, this trend presents a real opportunity to develop medical tourism as a specialized and integrated sector within a broader tourism ecosystem, strengthening Addis Ababa’s position as a regional hub for healthcare and tourism services.
The push comes as the city steps up efforts to consolidate its status as a leading tourist destination by upgrading infrastructure, parks, and cultural sites, improving hotel services, and expanding digital tourism marketing.
Authorities are also focusing on medical and business tourism, enhancing air connectivity, and hosting international conferences and events, moves expected to attract more visitors and support the local economy.
Discover more Ethiopia updates
