POTENTIAL, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF SEKOTA ZURYA WOREDA

Abstract

So far, various studies have attempted to assess potentials and challenges in tourism development; opportunities as well as prospects of tourism development has been done in different part of Ethiopia to assess and explore the potential, challenges, and prospects of tourism development. This thesis was envisaged with the objective of assessing potentials, challenges and opportunities of tourism development in Sekota Zurya Woreda. In order to achieve the objective of the study, both primary and secondary data were gathered by employing qualitative (observation and in depth interview) and quantitative (using questionnaires) methods. To get the representative sample and targeted kebeles purposive non probability sampling technique were used. The primary quantitative data was collected from 135 respondents and interview was held with 12 targeted informants such as tourism experts, communication experts, natural resource management experts as well as church and monastery administrators. Frequency, percentage and mean are employed to analyze the quantitative data with the help of statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20. In addition to this, profound and continuous observation was made by the researcher to fill the gap of the questionnaire, interview and other sources. The analysis of the study revealed that Sekota zurya woreda has numerous potential both natural and cultural tourism resources that are utilizable and viable for the development of tourism. However, despite its huge potential tourism resources, tourism development in the area is not launched. The main reason for the underdevelopment of tourism in the area are: lack of private investors and tour operators in tourism sector, lack of attention, lack of awareness, absence of promotion, lack of infrastructure, absence of accommodation and amenities. On the other hand, there are a multitude of tourism development opportunities that can help foster tourism activities in the study area like hospitality of the local people, peace and safety of the study area as well as the beginning of giving attention for tourism development by the government. In conclusion, tourism development activities should be launched in the study area since it is a powerful tool to eliminate poverty and to enhance the economic, social and environmental benefit to the local community. Finally, it is recommendable that, eliminating the challenges and using the potentials as well as existing opportunities for the tourism development of the study area. Key Words: Challenges, Development, Opportunities, Potentials, Sekota woreda, Tourism