Assessment of ecotourism as a sustainable development pathway for local communities in Semien Mountain National Park, Ethiopia

Abstract

Protected areas are essential for biodiversity conservation and serve as major tourism assets, particularly in developing countries such as Ethiopia. This study provides an integrated assessment of ecotourism as a sustainable development pathway in the Simien Mountains National Park. It examines stakeholder participation, resource potential, market dynamics, and sustain-ability outcomes by exploring the roles of ecotourism associations and local beneficiaries. Key natural and cultural attractions are identified, and market segmentation was analyzed to under-stand visitor characteristics and motivations. Environmental and socioeconomic impacts are assessed alongside the main ecotourism activities and income sources that support local livelihoods. Data were collected from 128 respondents using a mixed-method approach that combined quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. Quantitative responses were evaluated using a five-point Likert scale to measure agreement on benefits, challenges, and sustainability issues, while qualitative insights provided a deeper understanding of conservation attitudes and community involvement. Moreover, Focal focus group discussions and secondary data were used for further triangulation of ecotourism’s contribution to environmental protection and livelihood improvement. Findings showed that ecotourism was the second-largest income source for local households after crop and livestock production, with more than 7,000 individuals directly benefiting. Respondents identified village tourism (70.35%), adventure tourism (70%), wildlife and bird watching (68.7%), and trekking (66.4%) as key opportunities. Challenges include weak organizational structures (69.6%), limited tourism activities (64.7%), and inadequate facilities (58.6%). Negative impacts perceived include seasonality (79%) of the job, cultural disruption (62.13%), and local inflation (50.1%). Tourist numbers increased from 1,289 in 2000 to 27,980 in 2017, with revenue rising from 230,000 ETB to 23.6 million ETB. Overall, ecotourism contributes to foreign exchange earnings, employment, and infrastructure development. Strengthened collaboration among government, NGOs, and local communities is recommended to ensure long-term ecotourism development to minimize threats such as seasonality of jobs, cultural erosion and local inflations perceived by the local communities in the park.