Capacitating Employees of Culture and Tourism Offices of Bale Zone and Its 18 Woredas for Sustainable Tourism Development: Training Project

Abstract

The project aims to enhance sustainable Tourism development through capacitating employees of Bale Zone and its 18 woredas culture and tourism offices who have a great role for in the entire tourism system, with a direct contribution in tourism destination development thereby improving the contribution of tourism for the local and national economic development so as to alleviate the widespread poverty.The tourism sector lacks well-trained intermediate-level staff:  insufficient basic knowledge and skills in tourist products and services, target areas, marketing, sales, customer orientation, electronic data processing and computerized booking and reservation systems are often -cited weaknesses. So as to solve such problems and equip employees  with specific skills and competences, the project tried to give training on issues:  conservation  and management of cultural heritage attractions, tourism destination management, tourism destination planning, marketing and promotion of tourism attractions, booking and reservation, principles of travel agency and tour operation, museum management and interpretation, tourism product development, customer care and service.Strategies and measures designed to upgrade skills in the tourism industry show a trend towards more holistic solutions based on partnerships and dialogue between training institutions (universities), the tourism industry and other major stakeholders that go beyond training and regard in a wider sense “learning”, clearly combining teaching and practical experience elements.The project is expected to bring significant impacts such as conservation of environment, destination, wildlife and culture; community development and better livelihood; destination reputation (i.e. good promotion and marketing) and visitor flow increment; formulation of community based sustainable tourism development strategies and destinations management plan, involvement of local people in tourism activities and having sense of tourism resource owner ship, and sustainable tourism development.