Eritrea ITB

Eritrea will participate in the world’s largest tourism exhibition ITB in Berlin taking place March 10-14.

Organizers are expecting 11,000 companies and organizations from over 180 countries keen to promote their tourism products.

Over 30 African countries will promote their national tourism products and destinations. Despite the global economic crisis, Africa is enjoying the world’s highest growth rates for international arrivals.

Air traffic to Africa increased in the first quarter 2009 by 33 percent fuelled by growing business, government tourism investments and improved quality standards.

Euromonitor International has estimated that 42 million international tourist are going to visit Africa in 2010 with the World Cup in South Africa, increasing business and tourism, and a growing African Diaspora community contributing to that.

In 2007 Eritrea started to actively participate in the ITB together with Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Niger and Benin. During last year’s ITB organizers introduced Eritrea with the following statement,

“Although the country faces numerous hardships, it paradoxically remains one of Africa’s most peaceful, secure and welcoming destinations. Eritrea’s nine colourful ethnic groups are diverse and individual, and are a major highlight.”

The stand of Eritrea will be in Hall 20./127 for more information visit  ITB

Eritrea’s  Exhibitor profile reads as follows:

LOCATION: N. E. Africa, by the Red Sea. Latitudes 12° to 18° N; Longitudes 36° to 44° E.

Eritrea MapAREA: 124,330 Sq. km.

POPULATION: 3.5 to 4 million.

RELIGIONS: Christianity & Islam.

LANGUAGES: Tigrinya & Arabic; English & Italian spoken.

HISTORY: Former Italian and British colony, federated with Ethiopia. Later annexed by Ethiopia, but liberated in 1991 after 30-year war.

CLIMATE: Climatic Zones – Highland plateau (2,000m.) including capital, Asmara, 10° to 22°; Western lowlands, cool to warm; Eastern coastal plain, pleasant in winter months & hot in summer. Rainfall – Short rains in March & April. Longer heavier showers with occasional hailstorms from late June to end-August.

GETTING THERE: By air through Cairo, Dubai, Frankfurt, Khartoum, Nairobi and Sana’a. By land through Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti by sea through Red Sea ports of Massawa and Assab.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passport with appropriate visa obtainable from any Eritrean Diplomatic Mission abroad. No visa required for i.) Employees of air/shipping lines represented in Eritrea travelling on duty; ii.) Boat tourists arriving in Massawa and Assab for 48 hours, but shore pass required. Visa on arrival available to Group Visitors, upon prior notification through travel agents or tour operators in Eritrea.

CUSTOMS: Personal effects admitted free. Duty free allowance of 1 litre alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes and ½ litre perfume. Fire arms prohibited.

Sudan-Eritrea

News Agencies NNN-SUNA report that President Omer Al-Bashir of Sudan and the visiting Eritrean President, Isaias Afwerki, Monday held talks here on a number of issues of mutual concern to the two countries.

The two presidents reviewed means of consolidating relations between Sudan and Eritrea and gave directives for strengthening the co-operation between the Sudanese Red Sea State and Eritrea’s Northern Red Sea Region.

They also gave directives for completing the establishment of the road between Massawa and port-Sudan, giving concern to the establishment of tourism projects and benefiting from the large resources and capabilities at the Red Sea coastal area.

President Al-Bashir briefed the Eritrean president on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the registration for the coming elections and the efforts for a solution of Darfur issue.

Presidents Al-Bashir and Afwerki also reviewed the regional and international issues, especially with regard to the situation in the Horn of Africa sub-region.

On Sunday Sudanese News Agencies reported that President Omer Al-Bashir is going to inaugurate on Monday the Industrial Town and the Strategic Reserve Silos in Port Sudan and that President Isaias Afwerki will attend when President Omer Al-Bashir is intending to plant two palm trees to mark the National Tree Festival and address a mass rally at Al-Bayya Square.

In addition the reports stated that President Omer Al-Bashir will attend a sea carival and show and inaugurate the Third Tourism and Marketing Festival of the Red Sea State.

Eritrea is quiet a hidden spot for travel in Africa and underestimated in its tourism potential. The country offers many facets of geographical and cultural aspects. From the impressive Italian style art deco capital Asmara in the highlands to the oriental read sea town of Massawa on the read sea. Recently, in the Articlesbase Online  travel section a visitor explains what to do in Eritrea for holiday. The country is populated by 13 different ethnic groups, which give Eritrea a unique touch of richness in diverstiy. Efforts have been stepped up to promote Eritrea as a tourism destination by the Eritrean government in order to earn mostly needed hard currency. Since a few years Eritrea is represented at the International Tourism Fair in Berlin ITB as reported earlier by capitaleritrea. However, the development of a tourism industry is hampered by the ongoing conflict with neighboring Ethiopia and the risk of new wars erupting between both countries. Moreover, the region has been in recent years in bad publicity, due to instability and war in Somalia, Darfur in Sudan, and the military presence of western nations in Djibouti. Eritrea will therefore most probably remain a hidden spot known only to the Eritrean Diaspora and their friends.