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

Coronavirus

What Long-Ignored U.S. Travel Execs Told a New Senate Subcommittee Focused on Tourism

The new bipartisan tourism subcommittee, co-chaired by senators from tourism-dependent states, kicked off Tuesday with testimony from travel executives on U.S. tourism's biggest recovery challenges ahead — and that in itself is another big light in the tunnel alongside vaccines.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

What Long-Ignored U.S. Travel Execs Told a New Senate Subcommittee Focused on Tourism

Tourism

Why the Allure of the U.S. Virgin Islands Deep Into the Pandemic?

It's a backyard tourism boon for the often-overlooked U.S. territory in the Caribbean, where more Americans are flocking. USVI's successful Covid-control could also lead to the first use of in-country vaccine certificates to revive carnival later this month — while tackling local vaccine resistance.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Why the Allure of the U.S. Virgin Islands Deep Into the Pandemic?

Tourism

American Road Trips Surpass 2019 Levels as Latest Indicator of Travel Recovery

Americans are hitting the road in big numbers again — another sign that the nation is on the road to domestic tourism recovery. It's a timely boost as international visitors are unlikely to return by the summer.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

American Road Trips Surpass 2019 Levels as Latest Indicator of Travel Recovery

Coronavirus

The Lasting Impact of a Year With No Cruises

The world’s three largest cruise lines are desperate to stop their $60 billion financial bleed. Destinations have experienced life without megaships for more than year. Is this the end of mass cruising as we knew it or can cruise lines find a place in a more balanced and diversified tourism economy?

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

The Lasting Impact of a Year With No Cruises

Tourism

Nashville’s $450 Million Downtown Investment Offers Renewed Tourism Hope

Innovating amid budget slashes, natural disasters, plus a pandemic, takes vision. With backyard tourism now on a new pedestal, plus a high vaccination rate, Nashville's tourism execs are beginning to see their efforts bear fruit after having had some of the best tourism numbers in the country pre-pandemic.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Nashville’s $450 Million Downtown Investment Offers Renewed Tourism Hope

Tourism

What Tourism Can Learn From Chile’s Setback Amid Record Vaccination Rates

Vaccine success is already boosting the economy and consumer confidence in Chile. But another Covid surge shows that a cautious approach in tourism recovery efforts is imperative alongside the vaccination race.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

What Tourism Can Learn From Chile’s Setback Amid Record Vaccination Rates

Tourism

Why Tourism Desperately Needs a New Performance Metric Post-Pandemic

After a year that stripped bare the inadequacy of tourism’s success metrics, how will the industry measure “building back better”? Before it answers that question, there needs to be an industrywide reckoning of tourism's root problem.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Why Tourism Desperately Needs a New Performance Metric Post-Pandemic

Tourism

U.S. Travel Groups Push White House for Timeline to Restart Global Travel

A July 4 full reopening to international visitors is what U.S. tourism and aviation groups pushed President Biden on today, plus no mandatory Covid entry test for vaccinated travelers. But reopening sooner than later could be risky amid Covid spikes in other countries.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

U.S. Travel Groups Push White House for Timeline to Restart Global Travel

Hotels

Selina CEO Says Hospitality Future Combines Remote Work, Leisure — and Friendships

It's not just about the remote work potential for businesses — it's also about spending more on "company culture" by investing in in-person staff meetings and events, and focusing on establishing relationships. That's why the future of the hybrid hospitality model appears to be bright.

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Selina CEO Says Hospitality Future Combines Remote Work, Leisure — and Friendships

Tourism

Canada’s Vaccine Misstep Is Hurting Tourism Recovery

Things change fast in a pandemic. Canada ranked first in tight Covid restrictions, then it trailed the U.S. in vaccinations. Now it's playing catch up, while asking Canadians to help by spending the bulk of their vacation savings at home this summer, and not next door. Will they listen?

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago

Canada’s Vaccine Misstep Is Hurting Tourism Recovery