Tourist destinations include
Ethiopia's collection of national parks (including
Semien Mountains National Park), and historic sites, such as the cities of
Axum,
Lalibela and
Gondar,
Harar Jugol walled city,
Negash Mosque, in
Negash and
Sof Omar Caves. Developed in the 1960s, tourism declined greatly during the later 1970s and the 1980s under the
Derg. Recovery began in the 1990s, but growth has been constrained by the lack of suitable hotels and other infrastructure, despite a boom in construction of small and medium-sized hotels and restaurants, and by the effects of drought and political instability. footbridge on trekking route
16 in
Dogu'a Tembien One encouraging aspect is the growing popularity of
ecotourism, with significant potential for growth in Ethiopia. Travel retail sales are expected to continue to grow, posting an increase of 7% in 2006 and with a forecast 5% increase in 2007. Sales are driven primarily by expanding interest in ecotourism packages, including
adventure travel,
trekking and walking safaris that are making up much of the tour operators' revenues. == World Heritage Sites==