Lebawit Lily Girma

Lily is Skift's global tourism reporter. Prior to that, she wrote travel stories focused on culture and sustainability for BBC, CNN, and Travel + Leisure, and others. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Côte d’Ivoire, she calls herself a serial expat and loves to debate the power of tourism to tip the scales of imbalance in the world. Lily splits her time between the Dominican Republic and the eastern U.S.

Latest Stories

Tourism

NBA’s Big Africa Push Could Be a Catalyst for a New Tourism Future

It’s a powerful nod for Africa, giving it a solid competitive tourism advantage on the other side of the pandemic, from leisure to events. Will its destinations rise up to the opportunity?

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Tourism

Imagining Travel Without Outbound Chinese Tourists

China's prolonged absence from global tourism could be impacting more than tourism revenues. Yet, geopolitics aside, Chinese consumer demand for long-haul travel is still alive and well, and it's getting stronger.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Tourism

A Marketing Blueprint for Responsible Travel Emerges for Tackling the Outdoor Tourism Boom

More crowds, more problems? Yes, but it's also pushing the industry to take a more collaborative and inclusive approach to marketing outdoor experiences.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Tourism

Why the Travel Industry Can’t Afford to Dismiss the UN’s Loudest Climate Change Warning Yet

Ignorance of the science is no longer an excuse — the IPCC report makes sure of that. If the tourism industry doesn't snap out of its inertia faster, its fate will be sealed sooner than any of us thought.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Tourism

Fiji Tourism CEO Gearing Up to Bring Island Nation Out of Covid Shadow by December

It's the first big light in the tunnel for Fiji Islands as vaccinations put the remote islands on the path to restarting tourism by December, with a new leader at the helm.

Lebawit Lily Girma | 3 years ago

Tourism

U.S. Adds Aruba, France, Israel and Other Destinations to Do Not Travel List

A handful of the earliest rebounding tourism economies are increasingly landing on the Centers for Disease Control's do not travel list, pointing to the impact of the Delta variant.

David Shepardson, Reuters | 3 years ago

Coronavirus

Norwegian Cruise Line Gets Court Approval to Request Vaccine Proof for Florida Departures

It's a big win that comes a week before Norwegian Cruise Line restarts operations from Miami, as the Delta variant continues to rage in the state of Florida.

Tom Hals, Reuters | 3 years ago

Coronavirus

Norwegian Cruise Line Reports $717.8 Million Loss As Restart Challenges Mount

Heading to court to battle Florida Governor De Santis on vaccine mandates while trying to get back to cruising amid a raging variant — the financial bleed is sure to continue for big cruise.

Praveen Paramasivam, Reuters | 3 years ago

Luxury

Meet the Charleston Executive Diversifying the Profile of Future Tourism Leaders

For Marc Gibson, building a more diverse travel industry requires creating a path to leadership for youth. Explore Charleston's new internship collaboration with historically Black colleges and universities shows it can be done when everyone commits to change — tourism boards, hospitality businesses, universities, and students.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Coronavirus

Dear Travel Industry: Here Are 3 Ways You Can Address Vaccine Equity Now

By remaining silent on vaccine equity, the travel industry's big players are as accountable as vaccine-hoarding governments for a deepening tourism divide. Intrepid Travel is setting an example — will others follow?

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago