Senishaw PhD, GetachewEshetu, Mohammed2019-10-262023-11-182019-10-262023-11-182019-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/19613This 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.enHeritage Tourism PotentialTourism DevelopmentOpportunities and Challenges in Wegdie WeredaThesis