Ecotourism development in Ethiopia: costs and benefits for protected area conservation

Ecotourism and biodiversity conservation can be mutually beneficial, but their relationship remains precarious due to significant challenges. A study of the Bale Mountains National Park in Ethiopia reveals that while ecotourism development holds potential for conservation, practical implementation faces hurdles such as low education and awareness levels, limited community participation, unequal distribution of benefits and costs, insufficient sustainable financing, and environmental pressures from population growth. The research used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from 389 park visitors via self-administered questionnaires and qualitative insights from 20 stakeholder interviews conducted between September 2017 and February 2018. These findings underscore the urgent need for policy interventions to integrate ecotourism principles with neoliberal conservation approaches, fostering sustainable symbiosis in protected areas.

Aseres, S. A., & Sira, R. K. (2020). Ecotourism development in Ethiopia: costs and benefits for protected area conservation. Journal of Ecotourism, 20(3), 224–249. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2020.1857390