Ecotourism development in protected areas

Journal of Hospitality Management and Tourism, 2017

Ecotourism is growing niche market with the potential of being sustainable development tool in protected areas. Ecotourism development needs preliminary assessment of the destination resources. This study was done with the objective of assessing ecotourism potential of Maze National Park for ecotourism development. The study used survey research design. Structured questionnaires and structured key informant interviews were used to collect data. Target population of the study was tourism experts. Samples are selected purposefully to gather genuine information from relevant respondents. The result showed that Maze National Park has high ecotourism potential in terms of its natural features, but it has moderate potential regarding provision of site infrastructure and human resource features. The local community residing in the vicinity of the national park has low potential of tangible cultural features but possesses various intangible cultural features which can attract tourists. Hence, the national park has good potential for ecotourism development.

Even though natural resources have a certain contribution for development of tourism in Ethiopia with its major contribution to livelihoods of the majority of Ethiopians, large of attractive natural and cultural resources are exposed to degradations or threats due to negligence (EPA, 1997). Therefore, the main objective of this study was assessing Ecotourism Development or alternative options for sustainable use of natural resources which will improve the livelihood of local communities and conservation of SSHS. To this end, the research has attempted to integrate both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Questionnaire, Key informant interview, Focused group discussion, direct observation and literature reviews were employed as instruments of data collection. The participants of the study were members of the local community, community leaders (Aba Geda), and related stakeholders like Agriculture and Rural Development office, Cultural and Tourism office, SSHS experts and Small and Micro enterprise office at woreda administration level. Four Kebeles were selected purposefully from 8 Kebeles which were surrounding the Sanctuary. The collected data using households' survey were analyzed by frequency and Percentage. The findings showed that SSHS and the surrounding community have an excellent opportunity to develop ecotourism as an alternative livelihood. The analyses of the study revealed that natural and cultural resources such as abundance and diversity of bird, mammals, scenic landscape, hot springs, natural caves, waterfall and attractive vegetations are the main ecotourism potential in SSHS. Other opportunities include favorable weather conditions, local institutions and policy. So, developing ecotourism can engage a wide cross section of people and it is the most promising strategy to reduce the sever livelihood and diversify local livelihood options. However, at current time major constraints keep the potential opportunities from being developed. These include: lack of adequate infrastructure, lack of local community involvement and participation and unsustainable livelihood, inter-ethnic conflict, natural resource exploitation and lack of trained manpower. Thus, it is a crucial time for developing ecotourism to protect the beauty and environmental quality of the area and to improve local livelihood. In light of those circumstances, I strongly recommend all the concerned bodies to focus on the significance of developing ecotourism in the SSHS and the surrounding area.

Journal of Hotel & Business Management, 2016

Ecotourism encompasses two independent issues: the environmental input and the environmental output. The environmental input is the primary attractions which are potentials: not the level of service or facilities provided as part of a product package, but the geographical factor that leads the tourist to a particular destination. The environmental output is the overall net global cost or benefit of the tour operation to the natural environment. Sheko District harbors much ecotourism potential sites which can attract tourists, assessing the potential attractions and challenges are mandatory for future ecotourism development and supporting sustainable use of natural resource. The study aimed at identifying potentials and challenges of ecotourism development in the area. The data was collected by semi-structured interview, questionnaires and fully fledged field site observation. Some data were also accessed from written documents. The data were analyzed by SPSS. The main identified natural attractions potentials of the grassroots destinations are natural forests, caves, waterfalls, natural hot springs (spa) and natural bridges. The respondents mentioned that deforestation was recorded as one of the major challenges as a result from a rapid population growth. Natural attraction sites in the district were facing many challenges because ecotourism activities were not sustainable. The local community's subsistent way of life, inappropriate investment activities were an increasing threat to biological diversity including ecotourism attraction sites in the area.

Purpose-Ecotourism has emerged as a new hope of the tourism sector and is expected to overcome past pitfalls of mass tourism. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to assess the potentials and challenges of ecotourism development in the historic and sacred sites of North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. Design/methodology/approach-Data were collected through interview, household questionnaire, field observation and focused group discussion. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 23) and Excel. Findings-Based on household's perception, churches and monasteries were mentioned as the main (17.58%) ecotourism attractions that have crucial role in ecotourism development in the area followed by biodiversity resources (17.23%) and Holy Water (16.01%). These existing ecotourism potentials and opportunities were discussed on the basis of five dimensions, i.e. historical and sacred attractions, biological attractions, cultural attractions, infrastructures and institutional potentials. The mean score values of a five-point Likert scale level of agreement or disagreement of respondents were between 2 and 4.5, implying overall responses of respondents spread between agree and strongly agree. Originality/value-The findings reveal that although the historic and sacred sites of the area have potential ecotourism opportunities, different anthropogenic activities are affecting its development. The researchers recommended awareness creation programs, promotion of sites, development of infrastructures, employments of well-trained professionals and allocation of sufficient budgets as a mechanism to use the ecotourism potential and solving the existing challenges.

2017

Even though natural resources have a certain contribution for development of tourism in Ethiopia with its major contribution to livelihoods of the majority of Ethiopians, large of attractive natural and cultural resources are exposed to degradations or threats due to negligence (EPA, 1997). Therefore, the main objective of this study was assessing Ecotourism Development or alternative options for sustainable use of natural resources which will improve the livelihood of local communities and conservation of SSHS. To this end, the research has attempted to integrate both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Questionnaire, Key informant interview, Focused group discussion, direct observation and literature reviews were employed as instruments of data collection. The participants of the study were members of the local community, community leaders (Aba Geda), and related stakeholders like Agriculture and Rural Development office, Cultural and Tourism office, SSHS experts and Small an...

International Journal of Tourism & Hospitality Reviews, 2016

The main objective of this research is identifying the ecotourism resources and products for ecotourism development in the Dida Hara conservation site of BoranaNational Park, Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia. The study used cross-sectional descriptive research design. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used. The data were collected by using questionnaire, interview, field observation and secondary document analysis. The questionnaire was distributed to the visitors in order to determine the market demand by using convenience sampling technique. Interview was conducted with office personnel’s, tour operators and selected local community representatives and selected by using non- probability sampling technique. The study revealed that, Dida Hara conservation site of Borana National Park has potential ecotourism resources especially in terms of wildlife (more than 40 mammal species), birds (more than 280 bird species) and cultural resources (especially Borana community Gada s...

Ethiopia has huge ecotourism potentials including both natural and cultural attraction. The study area is also one the potential areas of the country having different natural and cultural ecotourism attractions. This study was conducted in Amhara regional, state, South Wollo Zone in and around Lake Hayq to assess the potential and challenges of ecotourism development in the study area. Four Kebeles were purposively selected based on the proximity to the study area, accessibility for ecotourism activities and availability of potentials for ecotourism development. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were applied. Field observation was used for collecting data in relation to ecotourism potentials in the area. Concerning to ecotourism development challenges in the area 98 household respondents were selected from a total of 5882 households and questionnaire survey was conducted. In addition to direct observations and household questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion, Key Informant Interview and secondary data sources were employed. The qualitative data were analyzed using narrations and quantitative data were analyzed by using frequency, percentage and Chi-square test. The potentials of ecotourism development were found as: scenic landscapes, water body, waterfowl, fishes, cultural and heritage attractions. The study also showed that ecotourism attraction, especially heritages are; parchment books, different designed hand cross, and several ancient man-made materials in Hayq Estifanos communal monastery. The major challenges of ecotourism development in the study area were; lack of local community participation, awareness, promotion and inaccessible infrastructure. Majority of the respondents (72.4%) described that local communities are not participating in decision-making process for ecotourism development. About 81.6% and 80.6% of the respondents also believed that the challenges for ecotourism development resulted from lack of awareness at local community level and lack of promotion the ecotourism products, respectively. Although the area has huge natural, cultural and historical ecotourism attractions, there were also observed different obstacles that hinder ecotourism development in the area. So, in order to minimize the challenges of ecotourism development and maintain its potential; local communities' participation, ecotourism product promotion and local communities' awareness towards ecotourism should be well addressed in the area.

Purpose-the purpose of this study was to identify ecotourism potentials of the Majang Forest Biosphere Reserve. Methodology-The study employed qualitative research approach using an exploratory research design. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussion besides to field observations. Accordingly, key informants interviewees were held with 12 villages senior leaders (n=60), key informants from 6 departments (n=30) and NGO experts (n=5). Altogether, 95 respondents were involved in this study Findings-The results of this research revealed that fauna and flora (87%), water bodies (waterfalls, rivers, and lakes) (82%), cultural attractions (54%), manmade attractions as well as historical sites are found to be the major ecotourism potentials of the Biosphere Reserve. Originality-The study provides complied information of ecotourism potentials of the Majang Forest Biosphere Reserve, which has not been explored before. It enhances the concept of ecotourism and level of understanding of stakeholders in ecotourism potentials of the biosphere. Its findings contributes to better conservation of the biosphere reserve through creating awareness and commitment to decision makers, politicians, experts, leaders, eco-tourists, local community, etc. Social Implications-Majang Forest Biosphere Reserve has endowed numerous ecotourism potentials. However, the flow of eco-tourists to the destination and ecotourism activities are very weak. As a result, local communities living around biosphere reserve are less benefited from the ecotourism development. This study promotes ecotourism potentials of the biosphere reserve. It enhances the benefit of local communities through ecotourism activities like tour guiding association, beekeeping, souvenir shops, cultural shows, horse riding services, offering cultural foods, drinks and dressings. Limitations-Further deep study is vital to identify more ecotourism potentials. Promotion and marketing strategies need to be adopted and promoted wherein using internet, big hoardings, billboards, posters, and travel desks. Infrastructures should be improved eco-friendly to facilitate ecotourism activities.

A study was carried out on two selected sites in the Gojera and Dinsho 02 kebelles, adjacent to the Bale Mountains National park (BMNP) to investigate the effectiveness of ecotourism in achieving the goal of environmental conservation and improving community livelihood strategies. Stratified random sampling was employed for the selection of households in two kebelles and they were surveyed using semi-structured questionnaires. Additionally, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were also administered. In all, a total of 144 households (including both 114 non-participants and 30 participants) were interviewed. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, descriptive and chisquare test statistics. The study showed that the majority of local communities living adjacent to BMNP were dependant on subsistence farming mainly animal rearing and crop farming, while a few participated in BMNP ecotourism activities. Though, a majority of respondents (71%) had a wish to participate in park developmental activities. The community perceived ecotourism as a tool for environmental conservation however they wanted the park to play an important role in the development of ecotourism and their economic uplift. The study finds a greater need of local participation in ecotourism developmental activities of the park and thereby enhancing their livelihoods which will be a further positive step in accepting ecotourism as an environmental conservation tool.

Academia Biology, 2024

Viruses are transmitted from humans to animals just as they are transmitted from animals to humans. The interspecies transmission barrier between animals and humans with respect to zoonotic pathogens is reducing. This reduction is partly due to the increased intermingling between humans, animals, and biological/environmental factors. The recurring classical H1N1 swine influenza virus, which is circulating even now, is a spillover from the 1918 human influenza pandemic that was introduced into the pig population. Also, most recently, SARS-CoV-2, the causative pathogen of COVID-19, has been retransmitted from humans to animals in a phenomenon described as “reverse zoonoses.” Multidirectional susceptibility to these zoonotic diseases is frequently recorded in humans, companion animals, livestock, zoos, and wildlife. Increase in the occurrence of anthroponoses calls for attention. Therefore, this mini review describes past and recent instances where influenza, coronaviruses, and other pathogens are transmitted from humans to animals. Understanding the threat of zoonoses and anthroponoses underscores the need for a holistic One Health approach for infectious disease control and pandemic preparedness.