Negele Borena, Gore Metu, Debre Markos: Ethiopia’s Untouched Tourism Powerhouses Ready to Stun the World

Negele Borena, Gore Metu and Debre Markos are getting ready to welcome more visitors, and for many residents the prospect feels personal as well as practical. Families who once spent long hours on rough roads to reach Addis Ababa will soon be able to board a short domestic flight instead, while small guesthouses, guides and café owners quietly hope that new arrivals will turn curiosity into much needed income. With Ethiopian Airlines preparing to launch scheduled services to the three new airports by mid April 2026, these communities are stepping into Ethiopia’s tourism spotlight rather than watching it from afar.

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest network carrier and Ethiopia’s flag airline, has confirmed that Negele Borena, Gore Metu and Debre Markos will each receive three passenger flights a week. The routes, operated by the carrier’s domestic fleet, will expand its national network to 26 destinations and significantly strengthen internal air connectivity. Government aligned communications frame this expansion as a strategic step that supports both regional economic growth and the long term development of tourism across southern, western and northern Ethiopia.

From a tourism lens, each of the three destinations offers a distinct promise once the airports open. Negele Borena, in Ethiopia’s south, serves as a natural gateway to Rift Valley landscapes and pastoral cultures that can anchor community based experiences and cross border itineraries with Kenya. Gore Metu in the west sits close to lush highlands and coffee growing zones, well placed for birdwatching, agro tourism and nature retreats that can appeal to both domestic and international visitors. Debre Markos, in the Amhara region, connects with established northern cultural and faith routes, offering new combinations with historic sites for pilgrims and heritage travellers.

Officials and airline leaders repeatedly underline that better air access acts as a catalyst rather than an end in itself. Shorter travel times encourage more Ethiopians to explore their own country over long weekends, while foreign tourists can fit additional stops into limited holiday schedules without exhausting overland transfers. In practical terms, this shift can drive investment in small lodges, tour operations, car hire services and local guiding, with tourism revenue circulating through markets, farms and craft cooperatives.

The timing also fits Ethiopia’s broader aviation and tourism ambitions. Ethiopian Airlines recently added Yabello as its twenty third domestic destination and continues to invest in infrastructure upgrades, while plans for the future Bishoftu International Airport indicate long horizon confidence in passenger growth. As the domestic network thickens, Addis Ababa’s role as a hub becomes more attractive to long haul visitors who want seamless connections to smaller cities.

For tour operators, the new airports open fresh storytelling opportunities. Packages can now link classic attractions with emerging ones, for example combining Addis Ababa and northern heritage circuits with side trips to Debre Markos, or pairing Rift Valley lakes with Negele Borena’s pastoral landscapes. Coffee themed journeys can include Gore Metu’s hinterland alongside existing western and southern routes, giving Ethiopia another angle in the competitive global coffee travel niche. Such product diversity helps the country appeal to repeat visitors who want to go beyond first timers’ itineraries.

Government messaging around the expansion consistently stresses inclusion and access. By making flights available to historically underserved regions, authorities aim to distribute tourism benefits more evenly and ensure that smaller communities can participate in the sector. If demand grows as projected, frequencies to the new airports could later increase, further integrating these towns into the national tourism economy.

As Ethiopian Airlines works towards the first mid-April departures, anticipation quietly builds on both sides of the cabin door. For travellers, seeing Negele Borena, Gore Metu or Debre Markos on a booking screen will soon signal an invitation to discover unfamiliar landscapes and communities that have long waited off the main trail. For residents, each touchdown will carry more than passengers and bags; it will bring new stories, opportunities and connections that can slowly transform tourism from a distant idea into a shared local experience.

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