Journal of Tourism & Hospitality
Open Access

Abstract

Assessment and Identification of the Tourism Resources of Bale Zone, Ethiopia

Aynalem S, Akele B and Alemayehu H

Although Bale Zone is endowed with diversified potential tourism resources, there were no clear assessment, identification and inventory of the tourism resources. Therefore, this study focused on assessment and identification of tourism resources of Bale Zone. Local communities, tourism experts from culture and tourism offices of Bale Zone and woredas, NGO’s, destination managers, staffs of agriculture and administration offices of Bale Zone and woredas were subjects of the study and 150 samples were selected for survey questionnaires purposively. In addition to this, four focus group discussions were held and 51 key informants were purposively selected. The result revealed that the zone is bestowed with spectacular scenery such as BMNP scenic beauty, Wabe Shebele and Gasera gorges, Konodria standing stone, Sof Umar, Welmel waterfalls and endemic plant, animal, and bird species. Tangible and intangible cultural and historical tourism resources such as, Dirre Sheik Hussein Shrine, Oda Roba, Madawalabu and Oda Jila historical place are the major resources of Bale. However, Bale is limited potentials in terms of tourism infrastructural facilities and services. Financial and human resource incapacity, inaccessibility and less community awareness were the major problems identified in the study. Since, Bale has tourism potentials and to exploit its tourism potentialities, there should be development package.