Ecotourism Development Potential and challenges in Jibat forest & its environs in West Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State
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Date
2021-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the ecotourism development potentials and challenges in
Jibat forest and its environs, West Shewa Zone of Oromia. Data was generated through
discussion with local community, interviews with relevant stakeholders and field observation. A
perception of the local community towards ecotourism development was measured using likert
scale measurement. The target populations included for this study were experts from Jibat
district culture and tourism office and Jibat Gedo district forest and wildlife management
enterprise, key informants from community representatives as well as the local community living
around the ecotourism site to be studied. The sample was selected purposively and randomly
based on the nature of research questions. The data collected was analyzed and summarized
using frequency tables, percentage and narration.
The study found that the Jibat forest possesses huge ecotourism resources includingendemic
floras and faunas, bird cliff, mountaineering, trekking, waterfalls, pleasant weather conditions,
and cultural values such as irrecha festival, horse riding and racing, kocho processing,
hospitality of the local community. The development of ecotourism in the study area was, owing
to be limited by lack of infrastructure facilities and services, poor marketing and promotion,
and poor linkage among tourism stakeholders. The local community has positive attitude
towards ecotourism development assuming that it will benefit them economically, socially and
environmentally. The study concludes that there is a high potential for ecotourism development
in the study area. Therefore, in order to alleviate the challenges the existing resources should be
protected, basic infrastructures should be developed, local community training and promotion of
the resources should be made.
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Keywords
Ecotourism, Development, potential, challenges, willingness, Jibat forest