COMMUNITY-BASED ECOTOURISM IN THE BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, ETHIOPIA: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND LESSONS LEARNT

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the obstacles and possibilities for promoting community-based ecotourism in Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP) Ethiopia and to summarize and present the lessons that European countries can learn from the empirical results. A descriptive research design was used to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The participants were chosen with the snowball sampling technique and data was gathered through a questionnaire survey, in-depth interviews, and observations. Our results testify that the local community possesses a variety of ecotourism assets that might be transformed into profitable community-based tourist goods. These would comprise leisure activities, scenic attractions, and other types of entertainment. From a tourist product standpoint, the local cultures are vibrant and highly intriguing, as are the endangered animals and plants, Fincanbera tourism attraction, Bodity Mountain, rivers, and waterfall watching chances. Despite the excellent prospects and favorable environment for CBET development, the Park faces many obstacles to expanding community-based ecotourism, including low levels of local participation and benefit sharing, infrastructural, manpower, and awareness-related difficulties, policy issues, lack of stakeholder engagement, and exploitative resource use, according to this study. The study's relevance for Europe is illustrated by the fact that the demand for developing countries is gradually increasing, and the motivating factors are increasingly focused on the knowledge of the natural environment. On the supply side, the adaptability and role of grassroots, bottom-up community-based projects are highlighted.