Ecotourism in Ethiopia
Ecotourism in Ethiopia
Ecotourism in Ethiopia
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ISSN (Paper) 2312-5187 ISSN (Online) 2312-5179 An International Peer-reviewed Journal
Vol.31, 2017
Abstract
Ecotourism is “a force within the industry that, in its very essence, aims to minimize tourism’s negative impacts
whilst maximizing tourism’s positive impacts”. Whilst smaller in scale than external effects such as energy
prices and terrorism, ecotourism represents a relatively large internal intervention in the global tourism industry,
and one which has now been continued for an extended period. This provides analytical opportunities from the
perspectives of tourism policy and tourism entrepreneurship. Ecotourism, a recent but widely hailed tourism
alternative, has high potential to be an instrument for rural economic development and environmental
conservation in Ethiopia. Therefore, the government of Ethiopia has recognized development and promotion of
ecotourism and provided consultancy services for a number of potential developers of ecotourism sites.
Ecotourism, a recent but widely hailed tourism alternative, has high potential to be an instrument for rural
economic development and environmental conservation. Role tourism plays in poverty reduction and natural
resource management in Ethiopia. Although not satisfactory, the trend of ecotourism development in Ethiopia is
developing from past to present. Increasing the awareness of local communities in and around attraction area
towards ecotourism or nature tourism is very important.
Keywords: Ecotourism, Development, Protected area, Ethiopia
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background Information
Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries that provide services and sales of goods for visitors who came
from outside of the destination area for a period of more than 24 hours and less than one year. It is strategically
important industry that is directly linked to the long term prosperity of a country. According to World Tourism
Organization (2005), tourism is an activity of human beings moving and staying in places outside their
permanent residence and environment for recreation, business and trade purposes. Now a day, tourism is
increasingly becoming an important economic sector in many developing countries (UNCTAD, 2007). The
industries were one of the major sources of foreign exchange earnings and the most viable and sustainable
economic development option. It contributes 11 percent of the world GNP (UNWTO,2005).
Tourism is a large industry that supports and contributes to the economic development of many developing
countries. For many developing countries tourism is the main source of foreign exchange which exceeds 80% of
their total income. Moreover, it has also a high contribution for the GDP, employment rates and in improving the
socio-economic conditions of the countries. In Africa, travel and tourism contributes directly and totally 3.8 and
9% of GDP in 2012, respectively, whereas, the direct and total contribution of employment is 3 and 7.1%,
respectively (WTTC, 2013).
Ecotourism is a new concept in tourism, which was originally sparked off by the idea of making
harmonious co-existence with nature a reality once again. As defined by the Ecotourism Society, it is the
responsible travel to natural areas, which conserves the environment and sustains the wellbeing of local people.
Today, ecotourism is one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry. Its potential for growth is
virtually unlimited. Any tourism program which is nature –based, ecologically sustainable, where education and
interpretation is a major concept and where local people are benefited can be called ecotourism. The
International Ecotourism Society (TIES) define ecotourism as: “responsible travel that conserves the
environment and sustains the well - being of local people”. Clearly, at a time when traditional conservation
through enforced protection of natural areas was being questioned f or its effectiveness and social impacts,
strategies such as ecotourism offered considerable potential for integrating conservation with development.
Ecotourism is “a force within the industry that, in its very essence, aims to minimize tourism’s negative
impacts whilst maximizing tourism’s positive impacts”. Whilst smaller in scale than external effects such as
energy prices and terrorism, ecotourism represents a relatively large internal intervention in the global tourism
industry, and one which has now been continued for an extended period. This provides analytical opportunities
from the perspectives of tourism policy and tourism entrepreneurship. In addition, any framework for analyzing
progress in ecotourism may also be relevant to measuring the sustainability of tourism more broadly, which is
still a contested area of research (Weaver, 2009).
Ethiopia has a long way to go to benefit from tourism. For instance, according to (WTO, 2002), the share of
Ethiopia from tourism sector was just less than a miniscule. A total of 156,327 international tourists visited
Ethiopia and accounted for 77 million USD in revenue, with 5% growth rate compared to 2001. In 2005,
international tourist visiting Ethiopia showed considerable growth although not up to expectations. The projected
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ISSN (Paper) 2312-5187 ISSN (Online) 2312-5179 An International Peer-reviewed Journal
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international tourist arrival was 227,398; while income generated from these tourists‟ amounted 135 million
USD.
Unto the present, Ethiopia’s share from the international tourist’s income is very petite. In 2008, Ethiopia
received only about 157 million USD. That amounts to less than two tenths of the 2008 total international tourist
arrivals world-wide. But, in the last three consecutive years, tourists‟ arrival is growing at an average rate of 7%
per year (Ethiopian Tourism Commission).
As Weaver (2009) presuppose that, the demand of consumers for „remote‟, „natural‟ and „exotic‟
environments have created a rise in ecotourism enterprises, especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. Of
concern is the fact that it is precisely these more remote, less developed tourism areas that eco-tourists seek
which are most sensitive to cultural rupture and environmental depression.
Ecotourism could be a link between protected areas and local communities by generating income for local
communities while conservation goals of protected areas achieved. Brodnig (2006) also stated that ecotourism
could be very important where the ecosystem is fragile and other forms of natural resource management might
be impossible.
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negative environmental impacts. In the former case, it is a means to the end of achieving a sustainable
experience. In the latter, it is also a means to the end of sustainability. Because most components of ecotourism
definitions either focus on the goal of sustainability or on means to achieve that goal, it is practical to use the
simple conceptual definition of ecotourism being sustainable nature-based tourism and recreation.
Third, and related to the second feature, by focusing on ends (the desired condition of sustainability), this
definition forces critical evaluation of what constitutes ecotourism. For example, is sport hunting ecotourism?
Many observers feel that hunting is not ecotourism, but under this definition it would be if it met the
sustainability criterion. Having the importance of sustainability within the ecotourism definition, a fundamental
question is “what is sustainability?” in simplified terms, tourism sustainability is postulated to result from a
positive overall balance in environmental, experiential, socio-cultural and economic impacts (experiential used
to describe the effect of visitors on each other and socio-cultural impact is to describe the effect of visitors on
local residents). Thus, tourism activities that generate more positive net benefit would be more sustainable, in
general, than tourism activities that generate fewer positive net benefits.
Ecotourism as we all know is a vague word which became a buzzword since its origin from the1980s, 1990s
to present. And some other definitions are listed below given by different scholars (though the definition given is
written in different scholars differently, let us see the1991 definition provided by the ICUN cited in (Hoof, V.
2006).
“Ecotourism is environmentally responsible travelling and visitation to relatively undisturbed or
uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its
wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural manifestations (both past
and present) found in these areas”. Ecotourism is “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the
environment and improves the wellbeing of local people” (WTO, 2006). The definition above is viewed in light
of experiential and „educational factors of the protected natural areas‟. Here ecotourism is claimed as a multi-
dimensional philosophical concept, which is a component of eco-development and requires planning based on
strict guidelines and regulations that will enhance the sustainable operation. Ashley (2006) further suggested that
eco-tourists profile characteristics attest an awareness and knowledge about the natural environment and cultural
aspects, in such a way „that will convert him or her into somebody keenly involved in conservation issues‟. He
drew comparisons between mass tourists and eco-tourists over the nature-based utilization. Both groups are keen
to go to the natural areas but the mass tourists has a more passive role with nature, participating in activities
which do not relate to the true concern over nature or ecology such as water sports, jogging, and biking. Whereas,
eco-tourists are attracted to a natural area and have a more active role through a no consumptive use of wild-life
and natural resources, through activities such as nature photography, botanical studies, and observing wildlife
(UNWTO, 2005).
An official international definition was adopted during the UN International Year of Ecotourism in 2002
(UNEP and WTO, 2002). The major components, as analyzed by Buckley (1994) do not seem to have changed:
nature-based production, minimal-impact managements, environmental education, and contribution to
conservation. An alternative but congruent analytical concept suggested by Buckley (2003) namely geo-tourism
with a positive triple bottom line, seems to have received little attention. An analysis of ecotourism literature by
Weaver and Lawton (2007) indicated that debates over definition have remained a significant theme.
Ecotourism means more than just spending time in and appreciating an ecosystem. For example, if you took
a romp through the Amazon Rainforest it would be a great vacation, but would not necessarily be considered
ecotourism. That's because ecotourism requires active tourists who make it a goal conserve natural environments
and improve the overall wellbeing of an ecosystem's flora, fauna and people. You can take a swim in the some of
the world’s Ocean or sea, but don't call it ecotourism unless you're actively making a difference while doing so.
Whether a word needs a precise definition depends on the context in which it is used. If the term
„ecotourism‟ is used for marketing, for example, it does not need to be defined at all, as long as it persuades
people to buy products. There are, however, several circumstances where a precise definition becomes important.
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Sustainability is a concept that is frequently used in relation with tourism development. While there does
not exist a universal definition of sustainability, many scholars agree that sustainable development includes long
term positive economic, social and environmental outcomes (Hunter, 1997; UNWTO, 2005; Goodwin, 2011). In
relation to tourism development, sustainability often enters the discussion regarding different forms of tourism
and their impacts. Conventional mass tourism, for instance, is known to have many negative environmental and
socio-cultural impacts, while at the same time the economic benefits are also frequently not enjoyed by the local
population (Telfer and Wall, 2000; Torres, 2003), for instance when large resort chains are owned by foreign
investors. Several alternative types of tourism, such as cultural tourism and ecotourism, have been introduced as
being more sustainable, and beneficial for the local population (Scheyvens, 2002; Brohman, 1996; Mowfort and
Munt, 1998).
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Table 1 Trends of tourist arrivals and money received from these tourists in Ethiopia from years 2001-
2005
Year Tourists Arrivals Receipts (in millions) Growth rate (%)
Birr USD
2002 156,327 676.1 77.1 -
2003 179,910 778 89.946355 15.1
2004 184,079 994.408062 114.627850 2.3
2005 227,398 1,202.368339 138.599940 23
Source: Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 2006
As can be observed from Table above, during the years 2002/03, 2003/04 and 2004/05 arrival has
registered high growth rates of 15.1%, 2.3% and 23% respectively in Ethiopia. Foreign exchanges earnings from
tourism sector also increased from 77.1 million US$ in 2002 to 138.6 million US $ in 2005 increased by growth
rate of 16.6% to 20.9% respectively in each year (MoCT). Annex 1 presents foreign exchanges earnings from
tourism in Ethiopia from 2002 to 2005.The contribution of tourism to Ethiopian GDP is low when compared to
the other Eastern African countries. For example, in 1996 tourism contribution in Ethiopia was about its 0.5 %
GDP whereas its contribution to Kenya was 5.1 %of its GDP in the same year (Aden, 2008).
Table 2 Tourism Contribution to GDP at current Market price in Million Birr for Ethiopia from 1996-
2002
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Table 4 Number of visitors or tourists and revenue collected from October, 2006 to September 2007
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major aspects of the development of tourism. The quality standard of the environmental resources that attract
tourists determines the economic opportunity of tourism. It is evident that the very existence of tourism is
unthinkable without a healthy of pleasant environment, with well-preserved landscape and harmony between
people and nature. Ecotourism, if properly managed and applied, can benefit the environment in the following
ways (Weggoro, 2008).
•Ecotourism is relatively less-pollutant industry, which can enhance the conservation and promotion of
natural and cultural heritages.
•Ecotourism will foster responsible tourist behavior, conservation of important wild life habitats and
ecosystem.
•It is best alternative activity to environmentally damaging activities like farming, logging and mining.
Although ecotourism may not be able to preserve these untouched areas as they would if human contact were
prohibited, it can help to protect them from the dangers of destructive agricultural practice, mining and
industrialization. “The flora and fauna may be bothered [due to ecotourism development], but at least it will not
be destroyed” (Dasenbrok, 2002).
•Encourages individual conservation efforts-informed tour guides and educational pamphlets can incite
tourists to become environmentalists, thereby promoting conservation efforts.
•Demonstrates the importance of natural and cultural resources to a community’s economic and social
well-being and can help to preserve them (Abera, 2016).
6. CONCLUSION
Ecotourism could be a link between protected areas and local communities by generating income for local
communities while conservation goals of protected areas achieved. Also stated that ecotourism could be very
important where the ecosystem is fragile and other forms of natural resource management might be impossible.
Ecotourism development, in addition to economic and environmental benefits, might contribute socially by
enhancing local community esteem and provides the opportunity for greater understanding and communication
among people of diverse background. Ecotourism helps for political empowerment of local communities and
fosters respect for different cultures (helps to develop tolerance). Ecotourism, a recent but widely hailed tourism
alternative, has high potential to be an instrument for rural economic development and environmental
conservation. Role tourism plays in poverty reduction and natural resource management in Ethiopia. Although
not satisfactory, the trend of ecotourism development in Ethiopia is developing from past to present. It is an
important vehicle for promoting cultural exchanges. Incomes obtained by local community from provision of
accommodation service to tourists, horse provision and tour guiding which contributes to reduce free livestock
grazing and deforestation of protected area.
7. FUTURE PROSPECTS
There are some ecotourism potentials and possibilities of alternative options, which are underdeveloped
like local handicrafts. Therefore, reinforcing these off-farm diversified livelihoods and introducing
additional alternative options is very important for sustainable management of natural resources in
Ethiopia.
There are problems of local communities linked with their livelihood and other related social problems
that could contribute to extreme poverty, which in turn contributed to degradations of natural resources
of Ethiopia. Thus, further study is necessary which contributes to alleviation of by using natural for
ecotourism in sustainable way.
Degradation of natural resources around tourists’ destinations sites like hot springs, the seasonality in
tourism and leakages in and around are indicators of the negative impacts of tourism. Therefore, the
concerned stakeholders are responsible to create alternative options for local communities, create
attractive tourist facilities and services, and protect sensitive areas or sites of park and integrating the
surrounding tourism activities with local economic development or agricultural activities.
Developing and creating diversified livelihood, promoting the development of ecotourism, encouraging
benefit sharing and conservation of natural resources of the park and giving the ownership sense of the
local people over the natural resources of the park are very necessary for sustainable use of ecotourism
resources of study area.
Increasing the awareness of local communities in and around attraction area towards ecotourism or
nature tourism is very important. Therefore, such awareness might be made through formal and
informal meetings of local communities with support of concerned stakeholders.
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