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Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2024, 14(3): 95-107
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Ecotourism potentials and its challenges in Dhati Walal National Park, West Ethiopia

Alemayehu Mamo, Yohannes Shifera, Kenasa Degefa, Zelalem Telila
Department of Natural Resource Management, Dambi Dollo University, Dambi Dollo, Oromia, Ethiopia

Received 2 April 2024;Accepted 10 May 2024;Published online 15 May 2024;Published 1 September 2024
IAEES

Abstract
Ecotourism is visiting nature-based attractions, with an emphasis on learning, education, environmental protection and sustainability. This study was conducted to identify the potentials and challenges of ecotourism development in Dhati Walal National Park (DhWNP). This park is one of the protected areas of Ethiopia that have unique natural and cultural tourist attractions. Western Oromia is a home for ruminant natural resources of the country and hotspot of biodiversity. Nevertheless the resource is not promoted. In order to achieve the objective of the study both primary and secondary data were used. Moreover, purposive and simple random sampling methods were used to select three districts surrounding the study area and 396 sample respondents were selected. The collected data was analyzed using frequency and percentage and displayed with tables and figures. The results indicated that DhWNP had huge ecotourism development potentials such as attractive flora and fauna varied in types with attractive cultural resource like cultural dance, cultural food and drinks, coffee ceremony, dressing style and traditional ways of conflict resolutions mechanisms. Although it had these potentials, the ecotourism establishment is constrained by lack of awareness, basic infrastructures, illegal hunting, lack of integrations between local community and licensed tour operator and government organizations, activity of community like illegal Settlements within the park, over grazing, fire and conversions of forest lands to agricultural lands. To allow the establishment of ecotourism, awareness creation, resource promotion activity, filling gap of community social infrastructures should be needed.

Keywords challenges;development;ecotourism;potentials.

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