Ephrem Assefa (PhD)Seid Mohammed2024-07-232024-07-232023-10https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/3300The main objective of this research was to assess the current practices, challenges and opportunities of conference tourism development in Addis Ababa. The researcher used descriptive design to answer the objective of the research and used both primary and secondary data. Respondents a r e c o m p o s e d of 150 conference participants (meet them in star rated hotels conference centers or meeting halls. They have done the questionnaire during the coffee break on individuals hotels which are randomly selected, 14 event organizers and conference planners who are working in those hotels, 3 concerned government offices are ECB,AAACTB,AAICEC and one tourism professional which are purposively selected to get reliable and convenient data for the research purpose. Survey data was processed using SPSS version 26 and analyzed via descriptive statistics. The results of the study indicated that conference tourism sector in Ethiopia i s in a very young stage. Though Ethiopia has huge potential in attracting and organizing regional, continental, and global conferences, the sector is still struggling with many challenges. The lack of pre and post (both in the past and current) entertainment activities for conference participants, as a person worked long years in the industry and based on my observation conference centers are not well equipped with facilities, language/communication barriers, lack of cooperation among stakeholders, absence of policy package, lack of well-designed conference infrastructure, absence of one window service for conference participants are major challenges. Access of cheap labor, the presence of various national and international organizations such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, African Union, European Union, Inter governmental authority on development, and the city Addis Ababa is also the seat of more than 135 embassies and NGOs, are some opportunities for the development of conference tourism in Addis Ababa. Furthermore, access to the center of the city, safety and security issues are one part of challenges, countries past record/ experience, tolerance of others culture, venue facilities, costs related with conference product and service and quality of product and services are the major challenges or factor which affect the selection of conference center and venue. Therefore, the researcher recommended that the current organizational structure for the MICE sector should be well redesigned in a way that give full mandate, responsibility and authority for conference tourism sector by the government (Ethiopian Culture and Tourism minister). Furthermore, adequate budget should be allocated by the Ministry of Tourism and Convention Bureau to participate on international BID to bring international conferences to Addis Ababa. Moreover, hospitality professionals should be assigned to work with internal revenue administration office at Bole airport terminals as the tourists and conference participants need good treatment with good welcoming hospitality service.enMeetingConventionConference and Destination.Thesis