Factors Affecting the Length of Tourist Stay Time in the Case of South Omo Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Tourism is a fast-growing global industry, contributing huge economic benefits to the worldwide community. Ethiopia is well known country by tourism potential. Among the tourist attraction sites South Omo Zone is a major tourist destination with enormous tourism potential. The main objective of this research is to identify the factors affecting the length of tourist stay time in the zone. Turmi, Keyafer and Jinka towns are selected purposively from the zone due to high tourist potential area and the data was collected using observation, key informant in-depth interview, and self-administered tourist questionnaire surveys. The data analysed by using appropriate software that is SPSS. The finding revealed that among the variables listed the chi-square result shows that the association between length of tourist staying time with purpose of visit, level of road infrastructure, facilities and services at destinations, personal safety and security, guide knowledge and level of attractiveness are significant and strong. The remained variable such as age, gender of the respondent, education level of the respondents, occupation, marital status, and means of transportation, tourist information, average daily expense and entrance fee has not significant effect on the length of tourist staying time in the destination areas. Therefore in order to lengthen the staying time of tourist road infrastructure, and service & facilities around the destination must be improved by the concerned body. Also the government should attempt to make the safety and security to the highest level in order to make the tourist in the destination feel the best and the most enjoyable although for protecting of the tourist from risk and from any possible litigation. Giving training for local guides to be ethical, skillful, trustworthy, disciplined and knowledgeable also unquestionable.

Keywords: Staying Time, Tourism, and South Omo Zone.

DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/51-01

Publication date:October 31^st 2020