World Bank to help preserve cultural heritage

Ethiopia has launched an innovative scheme to try and preserve the country’s fast disappearing cultural heritage, tourism officials said on Tuesday. The Tourism Commission aims to tap the growing interest in the traditions of Ethiopia while encouraging artists not to lose ancient craft skills passed down to them. “This is a brand new government initiative to preserve our cultural heritage,” said Dr Tewodros Atlabachew, who heads the project at the commission. “But in order to preserve it we have to show the local community that it can benefit both economically and socially,” he added. “That is the best way to sustain our heritage.” Under the scheme, the country is planning to help preserve and properly document “archaeological and historic” building and sites as well as boost conservation projects. The pilot project is funded by the World Bank to the tune of US $5 million and is one of the first times that the Washington-based organisation has backed tourism initiatives. Ethiopia at present has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites that act as a magnet to the increasing numbers of tourists visiting the country. Among top sites are the ancient obelisks of Axum dating back 2,000 and 3,000 years, and the centuries-old rock hewn churches in Lalibela. But fears are growing that much of the heritage of the country is being “eroded” by modernisation and development, and ancient craft skills are being lost forever. “In Ethiopia the loss of cultural traditions has been accelerated primarily by neglect,” said the World Bank. “Building and craft skills, healing traditions and language skills are similarly being lost with time.” The initiative came about after a personal appeal by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to the head of the World Bank James Wolfensohn. Tourism is seen as helping in the fight against entrenched poverty in the country. Last year more than US $77 million was generated, according to the Tourism Commission. The commission also said the number of foreign visitors to the country had increased by more than 30 percent in a single year, up 40,000 on last year to 156,000.