Tourist Destination Management Practices: Comparative Study of Awash and Simien Mountains National Parks
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to analyze the destination management practices in Awash
and Simien Mountains National Parks in Ethiopia. Destination management is a complex
phenomena associated partly with dynamic needs of tourists and unpredictable nature of the
globe, requires strategic thinking and advanced approaches. The emergence of new destination
with unique features leads to strong competition and increment of tourist leads the need to put
the right management process in place. The study employed mixed research approach where
both quantitative and qualitative data was collected from none randomly selected respondents. A
total of 144 questionnaires were collected from tourists. Qualitative data through key informant
interviews were collected among park wardens, Parks’ experts, and local tourism experts.
Additionally qualitative data were collected through FGD in participating local communities’
leaders. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, such as frequency,
percentage, mean and Std. deviation and independent t-test, while qualitative data was analyzed
through content analysis. The study revealed that even though, there are immense destination
attributes in each destination, there is lack and no existence of tourist services and facilities
provisions adequately and efficiently in answering requests of tourists, additionally eco- logical
facilities as part of destination management practice is at low level. The finding also indicated
that there is lack and weak stakeholders’ cooperation and partnership in destination
management of study areas. This finding further revealed that, Awash National park is better
accommodation services, ecological management and availability of birds watching opportunity.
While SMNP was better in attractions’ verity, unspoiled nature and opportunity for adventure.
Generally this study shows there is a significant difference in tourist destination management
practices of these study areas. The study also revealed the urge for devotions of destinations to
provide adequate and efficient destination products and services, weak and unavailability of
stakeholders’ partnership in destination management, in line with low level of ecological
management practices of each parks. All these recommend the need to make cooperation in
destinations service provisions and environmental management practices.
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Keywords
Tourist Destination Management, roles of stakeholders, Environmental Management, Awash National Park, Simien Mountains National Park, Destination attributes, and Tourist demand