DSpace Institution DSpace Repository http://dspace.org Water Resource and Irrigation Management Thesis and Dissertations 2018-11-22 AMASSESSMENT ON ECOTOURISM POTENTIALS AND DEVELOPMENT IN KEFFA BIOSPHERE RESERVE: CASE OF GIMBO WOREDA IN SOUTHERN, NATIONS, NATIONALITIES AND PEAPLES REGIONAL STATE. Sahile, Atinafu http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/9184 Downloaded from DSpace Repository, DSpace Institution's institutional repository BAHIR DAR UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF AGRICUTLURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF FISHERY, WETLAND, AND WILDLIF MANAGEMENT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND ECOTOURISM MANAGEMENT GRADGUATE PROGRAM ASSESSMENT ON ECOTOURISM POTENTIALS AND DEVELOPMENT IN KEFFA BIOSPHERE RESERVE: CASE OF GIMBO WOREDA IN SOUTHERN NATIONS, NATIONALITIES AND PEAPLES REGIONAL STATE. M.Sc. Thesis Research BY Atinafu Sahile September, 2018 Bahir Dar BAHIR DAR UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF AGRICUTLURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF FISHERY, WETLAND, AND WILDLIF MANAGEMENT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND ECOTOURISM MANAGEMENT AMASSESSMENT ON ECOTOURISM POTENTIALS AND DEVELOPMENT IN KEFFA BIOSPHERE RESERVE: CASE OF GIMBO WOREDA IN SOUTHERN, NATIONS, NATIONALITIES AND PEAPLES REGIONAL STATE. M.Sc. Thesis By Atinafu Sahile Main Advisor: Eshetu Moges (PhD) Co-advisor: Gashaw Tilahun (PhD) SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc.) IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND ECOTOURISM MANAGEMENT September, 2018 Bahir Dar ii THESIS APPROVAL SHEET As a member of the Board of Examiners of the Master of Sciences (M.Sc.) thesis open defense examination, we have read and evaluated this thesis prepared by Mr. Atinafu Sahile W/Silasie entitled “Assessment on Ecotourism Potentials and Development in Kaffa Biosphere Reserve in Gimbo Woreda in SNNPS.” We hereby certify that; the thesis is accepted for fulfilling the requirements for the award of the degree of Masters of Sciences (M.Sc.) in Wildlife conservation and Ecotourism management. Board of Examiners _______________________ _____________________ ____________________ Name of External Examiner Signature Date _____________________ _____________________ ___________________ Name of Internal Examiner Signature Date _____________________ _____________________ _________________ Name of Chairman Signature Date iii DECLARATION This is to certify that this thesis entitled “Assessment on Ecotourism Potentials and Development in Kaffa Biosphere Reserve in Gimbo Woreda in SNNPS.” Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science in “Wildlife conservation and Ecotourism management.” to the Graduate Program of College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University by Mr. Atinafu Sahile W/silasie (ID. No. BDU0906281PR) is an authentic work carried out by him under our guidance. The matter embodied in this project work has not been submitted earlier for award of any degree or diploma to the best of our knowledge and belief. Name of the Student Atinafu Sahile Signature & date _____________________ Name of the Supervisors 1) Eshetu Moges (PhD) (Main Supervisor) Signature & date _____________________ 2) Gashaw Tilahun (PhD) (Co-Supervisor) Signature & date _____________________ iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to honor and extend my sincere gratitude to my God, for providing me the opportunity to make my long term dream a reality and for being with me in every piece of life to accomplish may plan in every hour and minutes. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my major advisor Dr. Eshetu Moges for his valuable advice, insight and guidance starting from the inception of the research title up to the completion of overall thesis Work. I also thank the Bahrdar University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management for giving me the opportunity to attend in this Program and support to do this research work. I am again thankful to my co- advisor, Dr. Gashaw Tilahun for his willingness to advise me as well as his valuable guidance and support in shaping my research work. Finally I thank all my family, friends, and classmates who supported me in different ways. v LISTS OF ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATION DoFED Department of Finance and Economic Development FAO Food and Agricultural Organization FAS Foreign Agricultural Services GDP Gross Domestic Product IBC Institute of Biodiversity Conservation LUPO Land Use Planning of Oromia M.a.s.l Meter above sea level MCT Ministry of Culture and Tourism NABU Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union SNNPRS Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Regional State SPSS Statistical Package for Social Science SRMA Southern Region Meteorological Agency UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNWTO United Nation World Trade Organization WB World Bank WTO World Trade Organization vi ABSTRACT Ethiopia is rich with varied types of tourist attractions, which gives the country a great potential for cultural and educational tourism. This study has attempted to examine the ecotourism potentials and development in Kaffa Biosphere Reserve in Gimbo Woreda in Southern Nations Nationality and Peoples of Ethiopia. In this study three Kebeles Ufa, Shetta and Wushwush were selected as a principal locations for this study. The three Kebeles were selected purposefully, and the reason for selection was associated with availability of ecotourism potentials in relative distances, accessibility, and limitations of research cost. In line with this 218 sample respondents were selected for inquirers from three kebeles by using simple random sampling method. Qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques were employed to collect the required information on ecotourism potentials and development. Weighted Sum Method (WSM) tool was used among various tools of Multi-Criteria Decision Methods (MCDM) for assessing the tourism potential of the study sites. In addition questionnaire and key informant methods were used to assess the attitudes and perceptions of local community towards ecotourism potentials in the area. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and responses compared using the Chi - square test to understand the attitude of the respondents towards ecotourism resources and products Data collected were analyzed by using chi-square test to determine variation of awareness among the respondents. In addition, intra attribute scaling was used to know the level of potential ecotourism in the study area. Having these, nearly, 88% of respondents confirmed that there are high ecotourism potentials in the study area. Apart from this, the study site, Wushush has high attribute scaling on socio-cultural potential than others, while Shetta and Uffa have high attribute scaling on a forest and transport potentials, respectively. The existence of different wildlife in the study area, the presence of historical and cultural resources, the provision of different social service, and the suitability of the nature of environment is the best opportunity for ecotourism development. Finally, promoting and making further study is very important for digging out available ecotourism potentials for sustainable ecotourism development. Keywords/Phrase: Biosphere reserve, ecotourism, ecotourism potential, ecotourism development, Multi-Criteria Decision Methods. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page THESIS APPROVAL SHEET ........................................................................................................... iii DECLARATION .................................................................................................................................. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................. v LISTS OF ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATION ................................................................................... vi ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................................... vii TABLE OF CONTENT .................................................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................ x LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................. xi LIST OF APPENDIX FIGURE ........................................................................................................ xii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1. Background ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Statement of the problem ................................................................................................. 2 1.3. Objectives ....................................................................................................................................... 3 1.3.1. General Objective ..................................................................................................... 4 1.3.2. Specific objectives .................................................................................................... 4 1.4. Research Questions .........................................................................................................