Addis Ababa, October 23, 2026 (FMC) — Gondar should become a city where visitors stay to experience Ethiopia’s history and culture, rather than simply pass through, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said, proposing new lakeside tourism investment to help unlock the historic city’s potential.
Addressing businessman Kasahun during his speech at the inauguration of the Megech Irrigation Dam, the Prime Minister proposed developing a tourism and hospitality facility on the water in Gondar modeled on the project in Gorgora.
He praised Kasahun’s work in Gorgora, Bahir Dar and Megech, expressing confidence in his ability to contribute to Gondar’s next phase of development.
Prime Minister Abiy said Gondar needed more accommodation facilities, noting that the existing options were limited and some were located far from the city in elevated areas. The city’s climate, history and people offered reasons for visitors to stay longer, he said, making improved hospitality infrastructure important to its tourism prospects.
The proposal comes as the newly inaugurated Megech Dam creates further opportunities around its artificial lake. With a storage capacity of 185 million cubic meters, the project is designed to irrigate more than 17,000 hectares of land.
Beyond agriculture and water supply, the Prime Minister identified tourism, large-scale fisheries and employment as opportunities that could emerge around the reservoir.
For Gondar, the opportunity extends beyond a single tourism facility. The city’s historic sites and cultural traditions give it a distinctive place in Ethiopia’s heritage, while improved accommodation could help visitors spend more time exploring what it offers.
The Prime Minister also spoke of Gondar’s potential to draw greater attention from across Africa. He expressed his wish for two to four African leaders to visit the city each year during the Timket celebration, experiencing its history and culture firsthand.
He specifically pointed to Fasil Ghebbi, home to the historic Fasilides Castles, as a place for African leaders interested in learning about the continent’s civilization. More visits, he indicated, could help bring Gondar’s historical significance to wider international attention.
Prime Minister Abiy said Gondar still deserved far greater development, presenting the city’s tourism potential as one of the opportunities that should be pursued. His remarks combined a concrete appeal for lakeside investment with a broader vision of a historic city better equipped to welcome visitors, generate economic activity and share its cultural legacy with the world.