The World Travel Awards recognition celebrates Anbessa Travel’s local knowledge, service excellence and commitment to responsible tourism across Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — Anbessa Travel is proud to announce that it has been named Ethiopia’s Leading Destination Management Company 2026 at the 33rd annual World Travel Awards. The winners were revealed at the World Travel Awards Africa Gala Ceremony, held on 28 August 2026 at Diamonds Bijoux in Zanzibar, Tanzania — the opening leg of the organisation’s Grand Tour 2026.
This important recognition celebrates Anbessa Travel’s continued commitment to service excellence, sustainability, safety, ethical business practices and the delivery of reliable travel services across Ethiopia and the wider Horn of Africa.
Anbessa Travel’s journey began in 2012 under its former name, FKLM Ethiopia Tours. Since then, the company has grown into one of Ethiopia’s most respected destination management companies, providing services for leisure travellers, international tour operators, travel agencies, corporate clients and organizations.
Measured by annual turnover, staff numbers and fleet size, Anbessa Travel is today among the largest destination management companies operating in Ethiopia.
Headquartered in Addis Ababa, Anbessa Travel specializes in tailor-made tours, cultural journeys, wildlife and birdwatching experiences, MICE and incentive travel, executive chauffeur services and corporate ground transportation.
A Recognition That Encourages the Journey Ahead
Winning Ethiopia’s Leading Destination Management Company 2026 is a meaningful achievement and a great source of encouragement for the entire Anbessa Travel team.
The award confirms that the company’s years of work, local experience and dedication are making an impact. It also inspires Anbessa Travel to continue improving its services and helping more people understand the remarkable beauty, history, culture and diversity of Ethiopia.
“This recognition is a great honour and an important source of encouragement for our entire team,” said Molla Miheretu, Founder and General Manager, Anbessa Travel. “It shows us that our commitment to quality, responsibility and authentic travel experiences is being recognized. It also motivates us to continue sharing the true story of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa with travellers and partners around the world.”
The Zanzibar gala brought together tourism and hospitality leaders from across the continent, with host nation Tanzania taking Africa’s Leading Destination and Africa’s Leading Tourist Board, and Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club named Africa’s Leading Hotel. Ethiopia featured three times on the night: alongside Anbessa Travel’s award, Ethiopian Airlines was named Africa’s Leading Airline – Business Class, and Ethiopian Skylight Hotel took Ethiopia’s Leading Hotel 2026.
World Travel Awards founder Graham Cooke described the evening’s winners as representing the best of the travel and tourism sector and helping to shape its future.
Tourism as a Force for Peace
Speaking in an interview at the ceremony, Molla Miheretu used the occasion to look beyond the award itself.
“My message to the world is that we need peace everywhere,” he said. “Tourism can be a force for good. It brings people face to face, it builds understanding between cultures, and it gives communities a reason to protect what they have. Peace and tourism depend on each other.”
He also acknowledged the difficulties the company and the wider industry have worked through in recent years. “If it were not for our commitment and our love for this work, the adversities we have faced at home and elsewhere could have stopped us from becoming who we are today,” he said. “We chose to keep going, and this recognition belongs to everyone who kept going with us.”
Strong Partnerships and Reliable Service
Anbessa Travel has built strong working relationships with hotels, conference venues, transportation providers, charter flight operators, local communities and tourism professionals.
These partnerships allow the company to manage several projects at the same time while maintaining service quality, safety and attention to detail. Its experienced team combines local knowledge with professional planning to deliver smooth and memorable experiences for clients.
The company’s ability to adapt, innovate and respond quickly to client needs has made it a trusted partner for international tour operators, travel agencies, corporations, NGOs and event planners.
A Continuing Record of Excellence
The 2026 World Travel Awards recognition builds on Anbessa Travel’s previous achievements. In 2023, the company was named Best Destination Management Company in Ethiopia by MEA Markets.
Receiving another major industry award in 2026 shows Anbessa Travel’s continued growth and its ability to maintain high standards in a changing and competitive travel industry.
Anbessa Travel’s reputation also rests on its record of regulatory compliance and ethical business conduct. Recognised by the Addis Ababa Large Taxpayers Branch Office and the Addis Ababa City Government, the company was awarded Silver Level loyal taxpayer status for 2022/23 and elevated to Gold Level for 2024/25 — and remains the only travel company in Ethiopia to have received the recognition since the loyal taxpayer awards were introduced. In a sector where informal practice is common, that record reflects a deliberate choice to operate transparently and contribute fully to Ethiopia’s development.
Nature-Based Tourism and Specialist Expertise
Anbessa Travel holds the leading share of Ethiopia’s birdwatching and wildlife tourism market, a specialism that demands deep field knowledge, experienced guides and close cooperation with protected areas and local communities.
This focus places nature-based tourism at the core of the business rather than at its margins, and it aligns commercial performance directly with the protection of the habitats and species that draw travellers to Ethiopia in the first place.
Sustainability at the Heart of the Business
Sustainability remains an important part of Anbessa Travel’s operations. The company is proud to be the first Travelife-certified company in Ethiopia, receiving its certification in 2016 — no Ethiopian hotel or tour company held the certification before it — and maintaining its commitment to internationally recognized sustainability standards ever since. Nearly a decade on, it continues to do everything possible to deepen its positive impact rather than treat certification as a finished achievement.
Its approach includes supporting local communities, encouraging responsible travel, protecting cultural and natural heritage, promoting fair business practices and reducing the environmental impact of its operations. These commitments take concrete form each year, and are set out in full among Anbessa’s initiatives:
- Reforestation. Anbessa Travel plants indigenous trees annually at its dedicated planting site in Entoto Park, Addis Ababa, prioritising native species that support local ecosystems.
- Education. The company funds 15 student scholarships every year.
- Electric mobility. Electric vehicles now make up 40 percent of Anbessa Travel’s fleet, and the company was among the private sector participants consulted during the formulation of Ethiopia’s electric vehicle policy. It has also introduced EVs into project work across the country.
- Clean cooking. Over the past eight years, Anbessa Travel has distributed 1,200 improved cookstoves to 1,200 households, reducing firewood consumption, easing pressure on surrounding woodland and cutting the indoor smoke that affects household health.
- Community-based tourism. Anbessa Travel operates community-based tours that direct visitor spending to local hosts and keep tourism revenue within the destinations travellers visit.
For Anbessa Travel, responsible tourism means creating positive experiences for visitors while ensuring that tourism also benefits local people, protects destinations and supports Ethiopia’s long-term development.
Sharing Ethiopia With the World
This award represents more than a company achievement. It is also an opportunity to bring greater attention to Ethiopia as a destination rich in history, culture, wildlife, hospitality and natural beauty.
Anbessa Travel believes Ethiopia has much to offer the world. The company remains committed to promoting the country responsibly, strengthening international partnerships and helping travellers gain a deeper understanding of its people and heritage.
Above all, Anbessa Travel thanks its own team. The award belongs to the guides, drivers, planners, operations staff and office colleagues whose knowledge, care and long hours turn itineraries into experiences travellers remember. Nothing recognised here was achieved without them.
The company also extends its sincere appreciation to the World Travel Awards and everyone who voted, and to the clients, international partners, local suppliers and communities across Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa who have supported and worked alongside it from day one.
As it celebrates this achievement, Anbessa Travel looks forward to continuing its journey of excellence, innovation and responsible growth.
About Anbessa Travel
Founded in 2012 as FKLM Ethiopia Tours, Anbessa Travel is one of the largest destination management companies in Ethiopia by turnover, staff and fleet size, headquartered in Addis Ababa. The company designs and operates tailor-made tours, cultural journeys, wildlife and birdwatching experiences, MICE and incentive travel, executive chauffeur services and corporate ground transportation across Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. In 2016 it became the first Travelife-certified company in Ethiopia. Electric vehicles account for 40 percent of its fleet, and the company holds a leading share of Ethiopia’s birdwatching and wildlife tourism market. Learn more at www.anbessa.travel.
Media Contact
Molla Miheretu Founder and General Manager Anbessa Travel Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Phone: +251 93 011 0004 Email: info@anbessa.travel Web: www.anbessa.travel