Tour Operators’ Social Responsibility Practices around Tourist Destinations in Addis Ababa: The Case of Entoto Tourist Site

Abstract

Tour operation requires upholding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to sustain the business and contribute to sustainable tourism development. Research promoting the issues showing the role of Tour Operation in CSR has been scanty in Ethiopia. Thus, this study was conducted to answer the question, “what are the practices of tour operators’ social responsibility at Entoto Tourist Site in Addis Ababa?” To investigate this, a descriptive research design, with a mixed research approach, was employed. To collect data, 17 interviews were undertaken with selected tour operators, local people, and selected government officials. Besides, respondents filled out 183 survey questionnaires.  The result of the study showed that, of the domains of corporate social responsibilities, tour operators practiced legal and ethical responsibilities exceedingly going far than economic, environmental, and philanthropic responsibilities. Their practices on latter three domains of responsibilities were very limited. Moreover, tour companies faced challenges that include a lack of time management, lack of knowledge and skills, shortage of finance, lack of collaboration, lack of determination, lack of participatory policy, and lack of forcible rules and regulations. In general, the results of the study indicate that tour operators’ social responsibility practice had been found at a lower level. Therefore, tour companies should give due attention while practicing social responsibilities around the tourist destinations/sites. The local people should also ask the tour operators to be engaged in social responsibility activities at their