Contribution of Tourism Destinations for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Biodiversity Conservation in Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia has numerous tourism potentials that contribute to comprehensive sustainable development in many ways at both national and local levels. These tourism potentials are not yet utilized as expected due to various factors that require detailed assessments for each destination. Among these potential destinations, Eastern Ethiopia's tourism sites contribute to the country’s development, whereas their utilizations for entrepreneurship and biodiversity conservation are not assessed adequately. Based on these notions, this research assessment was conducted with the objectives of profiling the potential tourism destinations, identifying the existing contributions for local youth entrepreneurs, and assessing the challenges facing these places for further study and policy actions. Research Methodology: Accordingly, the purposive sampling method was used for site selection; as a result, East Hararghe, Harari region, and Maya City were included in the sample. Then, potential destinations in each selected site, specific places were identified to mention, Lake Haramaya and its watershed catchment lakes, Gara Mul’ata Mountain, the so-called Dabbal, the historical Lij Iyasu Prince Prison, and Harar Jegol. Moreover, a key informant interview with long-experienced locals was conducted to further strengthen the research.The result shows that these tourism destination sites have contributions to sustainable biodiversity conservation, climate change balance, income for local youths, foreign visitors’ attractions, educational research, and water sports. With all these contributions, however, these tourism destinations faced many challenges, such as society’s attitude towards these sites is low, less promotion of these sites to foreigners, and less attention to engaging domestic tourists and Ethiopian-born diasporas, poor infrastructures, especially for Gara Mul’ata Mountain, the so-called Dabbal, and Lij Eyasu Prince Prison.Therefore, it recommended that the government and other stakeholders should focus on sustainable awareness creation for the surrounding community about the importance of tourism, development of infrastructure, capacity building for small-scale local businesses, tourism managers, guides, community leaders, and registration of these sites at the global level.