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

U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo Says Tourism Recovery a Top Priority

The nation's capital has officially reopened — it's pushing for domestic visitors from neighboring states for now, and counting on public and private sector initiatives on the road to recovery, until international travel returns.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Business Travel

Nearly Half of U.S. Travelers Plan to Use Travel Advisors Post-Pandemic, Survey Shows

There’s cause for optimism for this at-risk segment of the industry, just as National Travel Advisor Day hits. Travel agencies that are quick to adapt have the potential to capture a new customer base that outlasts the travel recovery years.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Coronavirus

Why Tourism Needs to Step Up and Push for Vaccine Equity

No vaccine access for all? No tourism recovery. It's playing out already, with more lives being lost senselessly. The travel industry should act fast and figure out how it can be part of the solution.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Coronavirus

Big Cruising in U.S. Could Resume This Summer Under CDC Pledge

It seems the pressure from the large cruise lines, declaring they would take their business out of the U.S., might have worked as the CDC has suddenly pledged to help speed up the restart of big cruise.

David Shepardson, Reuters | 3 years ago

Business Travel

Can This New Global Community Tourism Network Shift Business Models?

The industry is clamoring for ways to "build back better." Planeterra, created by the founder of G Adventures, is expanding its community tourism model to do just that. Now the ball is in the court of destinations, resorts and tour companies — will they commit to partnering with their communities?

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Tourism

Hard-Hit New York City Will Deploy a Record $30 Million to Woo Back Tourists

That a city like New York needs significant investment to sell itself to potential tourists speaks loudly of the pandemic’s crushing blow on the iconic destination. Government officials recognize the importance of tourism to the city's economic recovery. The role that its destination marketing organization will play is crucial.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Tourism

3 New Tourism Ad Campaigns Striking the Right Tone for These Times

The rise of responsible travel messaging in marketing is a welcome next step, as destinations prepare for the return of large summer crowds locally, and international travelers keep a close eye on their favorite locales. Now's also the time to warn the ugly tourists.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Tourism

Slow Tourism Recovery Forces Aruba to Consider Oil Refinery Reopening

European territories in the Caribbean are increasingly facing demands from mainland officials to diversify beyond tourism, in light of recent natural and health disasters. Aruba is the latest example of that.

Luc Cohen, Reuters | 3 years ago

Tourism

Utah’s Improbable Pandemic Tourism Boost From State Support and Higher Tax Revenues

The Utah legislature's bet on the tourism economy placed the state ahead of the recovery compared to its neighbors in the American West. As more vaccinated Americans flock to its big outdoor spaces this year, Travel Utah's challenge remains managing and educating those crowds on responsible travel.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Tourism

EU Countries Officially Agree to Digital Health Pass Use to Restart Summer Travel

The next big step for the EU digital health pass will be setting up and agreeing to the technological framework for it, including solutions for those who are unvaccinated — all by June.

Gabriela Baczynska, Reuters | 3 years ago