Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...
Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...
Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...
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at a loss of approximately ETB 10,000 per year. Despite this, tourists still complain heavily about<br />
<strong>the</strong> poor quality of service provisi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
It is evident, <strong>the</strong>refore, that this is not an effective or efficient use of <strong>the</strong> park’s available<br />
resources. This strategy proposes privatising <strong>the</strong> lodge, <strong>the</strong>reby allowing for <strong>the</strong> more effective<br />
reallocati<strong>on</strong> of human (such as scouts being used for resource protecti<strong>on</strong> not guarding <strong>the</strong> lodge) and<br />
financial resources while also generating a small income through c<strong>on</strong>cessi<strong>on</strong> fees.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong><br />
It is clear that tourism development, in particular eco-tourism development, in Ethiopia is an important<br />
agenda <strong>on</strong> nati<strong>on</strong>al development strategies. Placing <strong>the</strong> federal Ethiopian Wildlife C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong><br />
Authority under <strong>the</strong> MoCT emphasises <strong>the</strong> countries recogniti<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> key role protected areas can<br />
have in nati<strong>on</strong>al tourism strategies. The BMNP, as <strong>on</strong>e of <strong>the</strong> most important protected areas in <strong>the</strong><br />
country, has a key part in increasing eco-tourism in Ethiopia. Although currently severely under<br />
developed, eco-tourism in BMNP has a bright future. With <strong>the</strong> development of <strong>the</strong> BMNP General<br />
Management Plan and Business Plan, it is <strong>the</strong> goal that tourism be developed in <strong>the</strong> park providing<br />
ec<strong>on</strong>omic benefits both to government and communities as well as providing funds for <strong>the</strong> protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
of <strong>the</strong> park’s resources, while at <strong>the</strong> same time having a low negative envir<strong>on</strong>mental and cultural<br />
impact. However, it is imperative that for <strong>the</strong> success of <strong>the</strong>se tourism initiatives, careful planning<br />
and risk assessments are carried out and that all stakeholders from government to community levels<br />
are involved in <strong>the</strong> planning and implementing process.<br />
Although much work is still needed, <strong>the</strong> creati<strong>on</strong> of partnerships between <strong>the</strong> BMNP and<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r instituti<strong>on</strong>s, <strong>the</strong> nominati<strong>on</strong> of BMNP as a world heritage site and <strong>the</strong> new website (www.<br />
balemountains.org) are all critical steps in helping <strong>Bale</strong> realize its true tourism potential.<br />
Acknowledgements<br />
We would like to thank <strong>the</strong> BMNP management office for <strong>the</strong> tourism data used.<br />
References<br />
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Boo, E. 1992. The Ecotourism Boom. WHN Technical Paper 2, Washingt<strong>on</strong> DC: WWF.<br />
Brown, C.R. 2001. Visitor Use Fees in Protected Area: Syn<strong>the</strong>sis of <strong>the</strong> North American, Costa Rican<br />
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Buckley, R. and Sommer, M. 2001. Tourism and Protected Areas: Partnerships in Principle and<br />
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