The number of tourists visiting the Lalibela rock hewn churches, 700 km north of Addis Ababa, has been increasing, local tourist officials said Monday.

Ababe Mengistu, head of Lalibela tourist information Center, told reporters that 9,700 foreign tourists visited the churches over the last six months, showing a significant increase compared to that of last year's same period.

He attributed the increase in the number of tourists to the prevalence of dependable peace and stability.

The amount of revenue secured during the reported period amounted to nearly 1 million birr (115,207 U.S. dollars), Ababe said.

He also said more than 60,000 Ethiopians visit the Lalibela rock hewn churches annually.

Ababe said that 60 travel agencies operate in the area, adding that Lalibela has modern airport, hotel, and other tourist infrastructures.

The 11 medieval monolithic cave churches of this 13th-century " New Jerusalem" are situated in a mountainous region in the heart of Ethiopia near a traditional village with circular-shaped dwellings.

Lalibela is a high place of Ethiopian Christianity, still today a place of pilgrimage and devotion.

Source: Xinhua