Browsing by Author "Amsalu, Desalegn (PhD)"

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    An Assessment of Potentials, Challenges, and Opportunities of Oromo Cultural Center for Tourism Product Development
    (Addis Ababa University, 2017-06) Amlaku, Nebyou; Amsalu, Desalegn (PhD)
    The main purpose of this study was to find out potentials, challenges, and opportunities of Oromo Cultural Center (OCC) for tourism product development. Hence, an attempt has been made to identify potentials over which tourism product development can be enhanced, challenges that act as impediments, and opportunities that promote tourism product development at OCC. To achieve this objective, data have been collected by using observation, key informant interview, and focus group discussion with selected informants working at OCC and Oromia Culture and Tourism Bureau. Then after, collected data have been analyzed by transcribing, then reading and re-reading the transcribed material, and then using thematic analysis techniques based on, categories that emanated from the research objectives. Likewise, the analyzed data has been discussed in the context of prevailing literature. As revealed in the study findings, OCC has untapped potential for tourism product development that includes: MICE tourism development, incorporation in the city tour package of Addis Ababa, standard food and beverage service, souvenir shops, and exhibitions, marketing promotion and technological inputs like website design and database management system development, availability of concerned stakeholders, and demand of visitors. Conversely, lack of awareness about tourism product development, financial constraints, lack of skilled manpower, absence of tour guiding service and interpretation of heritages, loose interdepartmental connection and threat of theft have been identified as the major challenges hindering tourism product development in the cultural center. Then after, growth of domestic tourism, distinctive presence and strategic location of OCC, and cultural policy of Ethiopia that promotes the growth and preservation of indigenous cultures are deemed important opportunities for tourism product development at OCC. And lastly, conducting a research based on tourism product development, MICE tourism development, reviewing the existing marketing and promotion strategies, training manpower, working harmoniously with the concerned stakeholders, and a careful examination of opportunities present in order to best utilize resources were implications drawn for future intervention. Key Words: Tourism Product, Tourism Product Development, Potentials, Challenges, and Opportunities, Oromo Cultural Center, Addis Ababa
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    Tour Guiding Practice in Addis Ababa
    (2018-06) Mamo, Amdemariam; Amsalu, Desalegn (PhD)
    This MA thesis research has been conducted on the basis of problems being observed in Addis Ababa concerning tour guiding operation practice in Addis Ababa, The objectives of the study were to analyze legal framework governing tour guide in Addis Ababa and to describe tour guide current practice in Addis Abab. In order to achieve these objectives 220 respondents were selected from MoCT, AATGA, AACTB, TTO, CM and GM tourist guide accrediting organizations in Addis Ababa. The total population of tour guides in these organizations was 448. The sample size was determined through proportional simple random sampling method. With regard to data type, both primary and secondary data were collected. Primary data were collected from 220 respondents through pretested structured interview schedule, and qualitative data also collected from 18 informants from head of the accredited organizations, expertises, senior tourist guides. Supplementary, secondary data were collected from MoCT, AATGA, AACTB, TTO, CM and GM. For the data analysis simple descriptive statistics like mean, percentage and frequency distribution were used. The survey result shows that out of the total (220) respondents the vast majority (94.1%) of tourist guide are male. Beside majority 49.1% of respondents were speak only one foreign language. Their educational backgrounds shows aggregate only 44.1% of respondents studied a field directly related to tourism. Regarding license, majority (77.2%) of respondents confirmed that they have license which allowed them work in different tourist destinations. However CM, GM and TTO accredited tourist guides didn’t have license authorizing them to outside their organization. Regarding specialization majority (52.9%) believed they are freelancers. All freelance tourist guides are accredited from MoCT, AATGA and TTO. Even though, TGs consider themselves as the owners of one or more field of specialization. However, the interview result shows that, TGs accrediting organization did not develop a trend to provide license according to their specialization. Concerning TGs guideline, among the total population, a significant number (27.3%) of respondents didn’t known about it. On the other hand, on aggregate 84.6% respondents agreed that having a compiled TGs act was “essential” or “very essential”. The key reason why so far we didn’t have a compiled tour guide act or law was according to 49.1% of respondents, lack of coordination. With regard to on-job training, majority (33.6%) of the respondents were not at all getting any training. The possible reason for lack training are responsible body being negligent it accounts majority 35.1% respondents out of the total population. Concerning TGs support, majority 54.5% of TGs out of the total sample were not totally support by their accrediting organization. Especially those tourist guide accredited by CM and AACTB from their total population large majority 91.7% and 86% of them agreed not at all supportive respectively. Majority 42.7% of respondents out the total population were provided tourist guide service always outside of Addis Ababa. Within this group in their total population 61.9% TGs from TTO were frequently work outside of Addis Ababa without having MoCT license. Beside majority 46.8% of respondents out of the total sample agreed not at all ask to show their ID card in the destination. Furthermore only 18.8% of TGs refused providing guiding service in the destination because of not renew and absent of license. Therefore, tourist guide accrediting organizations work together and provide support for tourist guide especially on job training. In addition all stakeholders work hard to established strong tourist guide association in Addis Ababa.