Cultural Heritage Sites and their Contribution to Tourism Development: the Case of Wegdie Wereda, North Ethiopia
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This thesis is intended to assess potential of cultural heritages and its contribution for tourism
development. To achieve the objective the researcher employed qualitative research method. Both
primary and secondary data are used to assess the tourism potentials. To collect the primary data
16 informant’s interview was undertaken with selected church servants, community elders, with the
local Culture and Tourism Bureau officers and other concerned individuals. In addition, detail and
continuous personal observation was conducted to fill the gaps of interview and other sources
gathered from various literatures. The analysis of the study revealed that Wegdie Wereda has huge
heritage tourism potentials. In this regard, the Rock Hewn Churches of Miskai Qidusan Gezaza
Abo, Gishen Aba Yaqob Rock Hewn Church, Abune Tsige Dingil Rock Hewn Church, Gebre
Endriyas Monastery and Derbitu Dare Selam Mosque, weleka Bridge and sekoru st. sillassie
monastery with their precious treasure collection are among its possession are worth mentioning.
Even though Wegdie has huge heritage tourism potentials and diversified values, they have not yet
been utilized due to the presence of various hindering factors. Lack of tourist facilities, absence of
promotion, lack of heritage conservation and absence of documentation, lack of collaboration
between the stakeholders are among the factors that hinder heritage tourism development of the
heritage resources. Finally, it is recommended that the collaboration of the administrations of the
church with different stakeholders such as local people, private sector and the local culture and
tourism bureau is very imperative to exploit the heritage tourism potential of the area and mitigate
the hindering factors.
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Heritage Tourism Potential, Tourism Development, Opportunities and Challenges in Wegdie Wereda