Historical Monuments of Addis Ababa and Their Potential Contribution to the Development of Urban Tourism
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Date
2020-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
About seventeen historical monument are erected in Addis Ababa intended to commemorate
heroes of the country and to keep collective memories in Ethiopian history. These monuments
cultural heritages like Axum obelisk, Gondar castle or the walled City of Harar (the Jegol
Ginb). However, historical monument of Addis Ababa are not promoted well and utilized as
cultural heritages to foster tourism development. In other words, despite their tourism
potential, the monuments were not given due attention as valuable relics contributing to the
city’s tourism development except serving as a landmark for roundabouts.
This study, therefore, tried to unravel the potential contribution of Addis Ababa’s historical
monument to the development of urban tourism. The researcher used both qualitative and
quantitative approaches to gather the necessary data. The data gathering tools applied in this
study were questionnaires, in depth interview, focus group discussion, observation and
document analysis. Totally 102 individuals have participated in the research including
international and domestic tourists, government officials, private tour and travel companies,
individual tour guides and members of the host community.
The findings show that historical monument of Addis Ababa have a potential to attract
tourists equally as other cultural heritages of the City. However, they are neglected by
government tourism sectors as well as by private tour and travel companies. Both qualitative
and quantitative analyses indicated that even if as a passing interest, international tourists do
visit on selected historical monument of the city. To the opposite, due to weak promotion and
under valuing trend, domestic tourists and host community do not visit historical monument
except when there are events attached to the monument. The study found out several
challenges facing historical monument: accessibility problem, lack of recreational facilities
in the premises and around them, lack of promotion /adequate publicity, lack of descriptive
narration and authentic information, negligence by tour agencies, locational disadvantage,
lack of maintenance and restoration, lack of awareness among host community, cleanliness
and hygiene problem and also controversial historical meaning and value. Government and
privet tourism sectors, host community and academician are recommended to take historical
monument of Addis Ababa as significant cultural heritage resources, which have wide range
socioeconomic contribution to the city.