Ecotourism potentials and development in Kaffa Biosphere Reserve: A case study of Gimbo Woreda, Ethiopia

Abstract

Kaffa Biosphere Reserve is rich with varied types of tourist attractions, which give the area a great potential for cultural and educational tourism. The study attempted to examine the ecotourism potential and development in the Kaffa Biosphere Reserve Area, Ethiopia. For this purpose, a total of 218 sample respondents were selected for interviews in three local districts by using a simple random sampling method. The Weighted Sum Method tool was used among various tools of Multi-Criteria Decision Methods for assessing the tourism potentials of the study sites. In addition, questionnaire and key informant methods were used to assess the attitudes and perceptions of local communities towards ecotourism potentials in the area. Data was analyzed descriptively using frequencies and percentages, while inferential statistical analysis was done using the chi-square test. The study had confirmed that the Kaffa Biosphere Reserve is endowed with high potential of tourism attractions in areas of biodiversity, socio-cultural and physical resources. The findings showed that the mean score for attitudinal statements about local people’s involvement in ecotourism development activities was 3.10. However, a slightly lower proportion disagreed with the same statement that local people were not involved in tourism development. The proportion of respondents also showed a significant difference (χ² =96.114, df =1, p=0.00<0.05) in their perception of whether the biosphere can serve to enjoy people or not. In addition, the level of awareness on tourism resources in the area was significant (χ² =60.457,df =1 p=0.00<0.05) among respondents.