Challenges and Opportunities of Community based Tourism Development in Awi Zone: A Case Study in Guagusa and Banja Woredas, Ethiopia

Abstract

Community Based Tourism is a type of tourism that takes economical, environmental, socio-cultural sustainability into account. It is managed and owned by the community, for the community, in order to enable visitors to increase their awareness and learn about the community and local ways of life. Various studies attempted to study the potentials for CBT development has been done in Ethiopia, and little is done on exploring the challenges and opportunities of CBT development. Thus, this thesis was done to address the objective of identifying the key challenges and opportunities of CBT development in Guwagusa and Banja woredas, Awi Administrative Zone. In order to achieve these objectives, both primary and secondary data were generated through qualitative (focus group discussion, in depth interview and non participatory observation) and quantitative (CBT participant survey questionnaires) methods. The census technique was used to select 3 CBT sites and 45 direct participants of CBT development. The quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics while qualitative data were used to validate and triangulate the study. The research reveals that several challenges have been experienced in the implementation and running of CBT projects in the study area. Lack of knowledge, interest and perception of local community towards CBT; low level of attitude of the community towards CBT, conflict over resource ownership; capacity problems of the direct participants CBT and woreda level government office staff;  incompatibility of  policies and legislations; low quality and standard of products and services and weak cooperation among stakeholders were identified as challenges of CBT in the study area. However, a number of opportunities like the strategic location of the CBT sites, positive attitude of the CBT participants towards CBT, hospitality of the local community, and the great potential tourism resources of the area are identified as success factors for CBT development in the area

Key words: Community ,  Tourism challengeies  and opportunities, Tourism policy Development, CBT development, Awi Zon