Abstract:
Ethiopia specifically Awi zone is enriched in beautiful cultural and spiritual festivals which
are so unique and could have a contribution for tourism development. These potential festivals
used for tourism development are not exploited and yet not experienced by tourists or visitors.
Moreover, the role of these festivals in tourism development remains unclear. Thus, the study
mainly concerned on about the role of Festivals for tourism development in case of Awi
Horsemen Association festival in Awi zone. The study used qualitative research approach and
used case study as a research design. The study had employed purposive and snowball
sampling techniques to collect data from Awi zone culture and tourism office, Awi horsemen
association leaders and members, festival participants of the local communities and hotel
managers. So as to collect data and information, the study used both Primary sources from
personal observation, key informant interview and focus group discussion. In this regard, the
interview conducted with 14 key informants and one focus group discussion with eight (8)
selected individuals. And secondary sources were from document and book review and by
analyzing different journals and audio-visual documents. The information that collected from
the representative of the given respondents had analyzed and discussed in detail by arranging
data in groups or classes according to thematic and assigning of symbols to each of the
category of responses. In the discussion, the seven house agaw horsemen association has a
significant role in socio-cultural related to escorting the guest, accompanying wedding and
mourning ceremonies and settling the disputes. The unique experiences of the horsemen
association which can helps to create the image of the destination are the involvement of
female horsemen in horse riding race, the involvement of the blind horsemen in the horse
riding race and horsemen’s horse riding talent shows. The Awi horsemen association festival
has also an important role for further developments in short term that the business centers
could sell their products to the attended guests and in the long term the infrastructural
developments and the living standard of the local community would be achieved. To make a
major attraction center and a tool for tourism development, not only the government bodies
but also as many other concerned bodies as possible should release fund and be on the side of
the horsemen association for tourism development process. The local government and the
tourism offices should work closely and cooperatively to use the untapped tourism potentials
of Awi horsemen association festival in the study area.
