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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 />

Asefa, A. 2006-07. Birds of <strong>Bale</strong> <strong>Mountains</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Park, Sou<strong>the</strong>ast Ethiopia. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Walia</str<strong>on</strong>g>, 25: 22-33<br />

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 />

and Belizean Experience. The Nature C<strong>on</strong>servancy Report Series Number 2.<br />

Buckley, R. and Sommer, M. 2001. Tourism and Protected Areas: Partnerships in Principle and<br />

Practice. CRC for Sustainable Tourism Pty Ltd. and Tourism Council Australia, Sydney,<br />

Australia.<br />

Eagles, P., McCool, F.J., Stephen F., Haynes, L and Christopher D.A. 2002. Sustainable Tourism in<br />

Protected Areas: Guidelines for Planning and Management. IUCN Gland, Switzerland and<br />

Cambridge, UK. xv 183pp.<br />

Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism. 2006. Tourism statistics bulletin (2003-2005), No 8.<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>Walia</str<strong>on</strong>g>-<str<strong>on</strong>g>Special</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Editi<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bale</strong> <strong>Mountains</strong> 293

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