TOURISM DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN DEGADAMOT DISTRICT, WEST GOJJAM ZONE, AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM MANAGEMENT A MASTER THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM MANAGEMENT IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN TOURISM AND HERITAGE MANAGEMENT BY: BIRTUKAN MELAK MAIN ADVISOR: MRS. HIRUTSINTAYEHU (ASSISTANT PROFESSOR) CO ADVISOR: MR. YECHALE MEHIRET (ASSISTANT PROFESSOR) SEPTEMBER 2020 GONDAR, ETHIOPIA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALS, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES IN DEGADAMOT DISTRICT, WEST GOJJAM ZONE, AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA A Master Thesis Submitted to the Department of Tourism Management in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Tourism and Heritage Management By: Birtukan Melak Main Advisor: Ms. Hirut Sintayehu (Assistant Professor) Co -Advisor: Mr. Yechale Mehiret (Assistant Professor) September 2020 Gondar, Ethiopia Approval Sheet University of Gondar College of Business and Economics Department of Tourism & Heritage Management Tourism Development Potentials, Challenges and Opportunities in Degadamot District, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia By: Birtukan Melak Approval of Board of Examiners …………….……………. ……………. ………………. Internal Examiner Name Signature Date ………………………….. ……………. ……………. External Examiner Name Signature Date ………………………….. ……………. ……………. Advisor Name Signature Date DECLARATION I, Birtukan Melak, hereby declare that this thesis is entitled “tourism development potentials, challenges, and opportunities in Degadamot district” is a product of my original research work. I seriously assert that this thesis is not submitted to any institutions anywhere for the award of any academic degree, diploma, or certificate. The assessments of the research participants have been duly acknowledged in this research. To the best of my knowledge, I have fully acknowledged the resources and pieces of information used in the study. Declared by: Birtukan Melak Signature ……………………. Date ……………………. Confirmed by: Hirut Sintayehu (Assistant Professor) …………………………………………… Main Advisor Signature…………………………. Date ……………………. Yechale Mehiret (Assistant Professor.) ………………...………………………Co- Advisor Signature……………………………. Date ……………………………. i Acknowledgements Initially, I would like to thanks my God and next state my genuine gratitude to Mrs. Hirut Sintayehu and Mr. Yechale Mehiret for their wholehearted comments and guidance and devoted time in correcting the drafts of this research. Following my advisors, I am very much thankful to all instructors of tourism and heritage management program for their valuable suggestions and inspiration during study, and I would like to thank all my respondents; Degadamot Woreda culture and tourism expertise, woreda’s communication office, administrative office of the Woreda , Degadamot Woreda Diocese of orthodox religions, and Degadamot Woreda road and transport expert who provide me valid information during the interview session. And it is glad to show special thanks to all my families, specially my mother. Similarly, I would like to thanks to my classmates. ii Table of Contents Content Pages DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. i Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ vii List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ........................................................................................... viii Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Back ground of the Study ...................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Objective ............................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.1 General Objective ........................................................................................................... 4 1.3.2. Specific Objectives ........................................................................................................ 4 1.4. Research Questions .............................................................................................................. 4 1.5. Delimitation of the Study ..................................................................................................... 4 1.6. Limitation of the Study ........................................................................................................ 5 1.7. Significance of the Study ..................................................................................................... 5 1.8. Organization of the Study .................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................................ 6 2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES ................................................................................ 6 2.1 Concepts of Tourism ............................................................................................................. 6 2.2. Indicators of Tourism Development .................................................................................... 6 iii 2.3. Tourism Development Potentials ......................................................................................... 7 2.4. Tourism Potential in Ethiopia .............................................................................................. 8 2.4.1. Accessibility and Infrastructure ................................................................................... 11 2.4.2. Accommodation........................................................................................................... 12 2.4.3. Promotional Awareness ............................................................................................... 12 2.5. Challenges and Opportunities of Tourism Development ................................................... 13 2.5.1. Challenges of the Tourism Development in Ethiopia ................................................. 13 2.5.2. Opportunities of the Tourism Development in Ethiopia ............................................. 15 CHAPTER THREE ...................................................................................................................... 17 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY............................................................................................... 18 3.1. Description of the Study Area ............................................................................................ 18 3.2. Research Approach ............................................................................................................ 20 3.3. Research Design ................................................................................................................. 20 3.4. Sources of Data .................................................................................................................. 20 3.5. Population of the Study ...................................................................................................... 20 3.6. Sampling Techniques and Sample Size Determination. .................................................... 20 3.6.1 Sampling Technique ..................................................................................................... 20 3.6.2. Sample Size Determination ......................................................................................... 21 3.7. Data Collection Instruments ............................................................................................... 21 A. Interviews ......................................................................................................................... 21 B. Observation ....................................................................................................................... 21 C. Document Analysis ........................................................................................................... 21 3.8. Data Collecting Procedures ................................................................................................ 22 3.9. Method of Data Analysis................................................................................................... 22 3.10. Trustworthiness of the Study ..........................................................................................