Abstract:
This paper is intended to assess
potentials and challenges of heritage tourism development in Tedbabe Mariam church. Qualitative
research approach was employed to collect data from local community elders, Amhara Sayint culture
and tourism office employees, servants and leaders of Tedbabe Mariam church, Amhara Sayint
diocese, South Wollo Zone culture and tourism department employees selected through purposive and
snowball sampling techniques. Both primary and secondary sources were used to assess potentials and
challenges of heritage tourism development in Tedbabe Mariam church. Primary data were collected
through semi-structured interviews, personal observation and focus group discussion whilst published
and unpublished documents were employed as secondary sources. Results revealed that long history,
mural paintings, tombs of saints, treasury house with collections of parchment manuscripts, crosses,
icons, umbrella, and crowns were potentials of heritage tourism development in Tedbabe Mariam
church. Despite Tedbabe Mariam church has such huge heritage tourism potentials, it has not yet been
properly conserved and utilized due to poor handling system and lack of well-organized museum,
underdeveloped infrastructure, lack of skilled manpower, lack of promotion and awareness, theft and
illicit trafficking, and lack of documentation.
