http://etd.aau.edu.et:80/dspace/handle/123456789/403 Search the Channel search http://etd.aau.edu.et:80/dspace/simple-search http://etd.aau.edu.et:80/dspace/handle/123456789/4285 Title: Assessment of Public Leisure Services Provision: The Case of Addis Ababa Recreational Parks. <br/> <br/>Authors: Yeshewazerf, G/wold <br/> <br/>Abstract: Urban recreational parks have great values like by being an attraction for leisure and recreation contribute for tourism and contribute positively for the economy. In addition to this urban recreational parks have social, environmental, educational and health benefits. However ever urban recreational parks are underutilized due to poor services and facilities they have. Measures taken to solve the problem were limited due to lack of attention and research. The objectives of the study were to assess current government authority practices for planning, providing, managing and maintaining urban parks, identifying factors affecting recreational parks service provision and perception of visitors on the service and facilities provided. The study was conducted by collecting data and information from park visitors, parks and park agency workers, Addis Ababa Tourism Bureau regarding official, and community representatives using questionnaire and key informant interview. In analyzing the data descriptive statistic for the questionnaire filled by park visitors and simple qualitative analysis is used for information from key informant interview. Results indicated that services and facilities at the parks are poor and poorly maintained. Lack of finance, professional human resource and absence policies and guidelines for service provision are the main problems resulted in poor service facility. Therefore, to improve service and facilities and achieve intended objective government should review its policies on park management to enable allocation of more resources and the system of management and financial sourcing and involve all stakeholders in the system are recommended. http://etd.aau.edu.et:80/dspace/handle/123456789/4284 Title: Community Based Ecotourism in Tigray: The Case of Aksum <br/> <br/>Authors: Yemane, Berhe G/Libanos <br/> <br/>Abstract: The main objective of this study has been to explore the potentials for ecotourism and understand how ecotourism can serve as a livelihood option in Aksum district; Tigray province of northern Ethiopia, This study also assesses community perception in tourism and/or CBE. Community perception in a given tourism project influences the level of tourism development in Aksum. If communities have positive attitude towards a given ecotourism project, the chance of sustainability becomes high. The issue of community participation and empowerment is also assessed. CBE is conducted in community owned lands were local participation plays significant roles of success. Participation in this context means involving the community as a collective group in a given CBE and/or tourism projects. There are also many issues that can determine the level of community participation. One of it is empowerment. Empowerment is considered as one mechanisms of participating Aksum’s community in a given CBE and/tourism projects http://etd.aau.edu.et:80/dspace/handle/123456789/4283 Title: TOURISM CERTIFICATION AS A TOOL FOR PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY IN THE ETHIOPIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY: THE CASE OF ADDIS ABABA <br/> <br/>Authors: YECHALE, MEHIRET <br/> <br/>Abstract: The major purpose of this study is to examine whether and under what conditions tourism certification can help to promote sustainable tourism development at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. To acheive this objective, quantitative and qualitative case study method, and purposive and stratified sampling techniques were employed for both questionnaire and interview data gathering instruments. Quantitatively, fourty eight sample Addis Ababa tourism experts were participated from sixty experts and the collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, correlation, ANOVA, Post hoc and independent t-test. The qualitative data were collected from ten experts and analyzed through interpretative and descripitive account of the data; and the major findings of the study are presented. Accordingly, the t-test and ANOVA confirmed that there were statistically significant difference between the understanding level of BA/BSC and MA/MSC experts and those who have worked under ten years and above in the industry on tourism certification schemes and sustainable tourism development concepts. Approach to correlation, statistically a significant relation was found between tourism certification schemes and sustainable tourism development, and social tourism certification scheme accounted for the largest proportion of common variance (86%). Regardless of contribution, the descriptive statistics revealed that there was statistically a significant difference between those who have worked under ten years and above on the role of tourism certification schemes in Ethiopian industry. Furthermore, MA/MSC experts were predominant in understanding the concept of tourism certification schemes’ contribution for the sustainable development of Ethiopian tourism industry. Results of data obtained through interview indicated that there should be all inclusive and Public Private Partnership tourism certification schemes in Ethiopia. Principally, experts agreed that taking Costa Rican tourism certification scheme as a benchmark is far important than starting a new scheme or adopting others. It was concluded that tourism certification schemes and sustainable tourism are closely related variables and tourism certification schemes can play vital roles in the sustainable development of Ethiopian tourism industry. Finally, based on the results of the study, provision of effective, efficient and practical training for experts, introduction of local and regional certification schemes and conducting pilot project were some of the recommended points to the sustainable development of tourism at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Key Words: Tourism Certification, Sustainable Tourism Development, Addis Ababa and http://etd.aau.edu.et:80/dspace/handle/123456789/4282 Title: Escaping Poverty’s Grasp: A WAJIB Approach For Environmental Conservation and Eco-Tourism Development. A Case Study on Integrated Forest Management (IFMP) Adaba-Dodola <br/> <br/>Authors: Sewbesew, Yideg <br/> <br/>Abstract: The Bale Mountains in the high lands of Southern Ethiopia are an example for a huge impact which rural population can create on natural resources such as forest and their bio diversity .The heavy degradation of the remaining natural forests in this area has initiated an intervention by the GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit ) in 1995 with a goal to protect the remaining afro montane forest and to develop, use and manage them sustainably. The community based approach which is named WAJIB (Walda Jirratootaa Boossona), has been implemented to achieve the goal. WAJIB granted an exclusive user right while at the same time entitling the community with a right to earn a livelihood from wood and non-wood income generating activities. This research made an attempt to see the governance, effectiveness and sustainability of the approach while studying the contribution of the approach to enhanced capital assets and livelihood outcome of the local community in the study area. The study deals with the contribution of the approach to livelihoods, which is based on assessing the contribution of the approach to the livelihood of the poor employing the livelihood framework as a check list to collect, organize and analyze the data systematically. A mixed method approach (quantitative and qualitative) is employed to generate the required data. A total of 100 samples were drawn to collect the required data. After analyzing the data the study concludes the approach has scored a momentous result on the development of the capital assets of the community, but the analysis shows that the approach could not solve all the initial problems in the study area .While the natural capital is improved in most of the WAJIB areas it shows a deteriorating trend among the Non- WAJIBs due to the difference in forest management among the two groups. In view of the financial capital the introduction of alternative income possibilities and enhanced income from the existing resources has boosted. In studying the improvement in the social capital, though a strong social networks and connectedness is consolidated within and among the WAJIB members, a conflicting and hostile relationship is being observed among WAJIB and Non- WAJIB groups due to the creation of WAJIB blocks with exclusive user rights for a relatively limited number of beneficiaries. The contribution of Eco tourism to livelihood out comes is found to be imperative at varying degrees to the different livelihood out comes .While extremely important to meet cash needs; Furthermore, the study revealed that individuals participating in eco tourism activity in the area are getting a mean monthly income of 120 ETB, while the non financial benefits accrue in similar vein. But a further diffusion of income has to be supported. its contribution to people’s empowerment must be dealt in depth to made the local community respond authentically to a livelihood strategy they may pursue in the future.