In a recent announcement, Minister of Tourism Nasise Chali revealed that the existing hotel star ratings would be retired by September 2024. This move comes in response to Regulation No. 173/2010, which mandates hotels to undergo re-classification every three years.
The Ministry has already begun preparations for the reassessment process, encompassing hotels in Addis Ababa and all regions. Additionally, discussions are underway with hotel owners and industry stakeholders to develop clear guidelines for the re-classification.
The Minster emphasized that hotels failing to meet the new criteria would lose their star rating altogether. According to the Ministry, this critical step aims to elevate hotel service standards and strengthen Ethiopia’s position as a competitive tourism destination.
The Ministry announced in March this year that none of the hotels assessed for rating during the 2023/24 fiscal year yielded a 5-star rating. It was announced after evaluating hotels in major tourist destinations such as Addis Ababa, Hawassa, Adama, Bishoftu, Shashemene, and Dukem. Out of the 64 hotels reviewed, only 31 met the basic requirements for rating, and none qualified for the top 5-star distinction.
Source: Fana BC
Additional source: 2Merkato Archives
