A tale of duality: Community perceptions towards the ecotourism impacts on Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

doi:10.1016/j.regsus.2023.11.007

Abstract

Abstract:

This study aims to analyze how park households perceive the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts of ecotourism in Simien Mountain National Park (SMNP), Ethiopia. We combined qualitative and quantitative techniques for data collection. A sequentially embedded mixed design that gives priority to quantitative data was used. We also employed a multistage sampling technique to select respondents from three districts or woredas, namely Debark, Janamora, and Beyeda woredas. Finally, 397 participants were involved in the study from a random selection of three villages from each district or woreda. Data were gathered using a survey questionnaire, interviews, and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including means, standard deviations, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and logistic regression models. The findings from a logistic regression analysis revealed that ecotourism participation had a significant relationship with gender (B=1.850, P=0.023), level of education (B=0.238, P=0.032), geographical location (B=0.420, P=0.041), and occupation (B=0.920, P=0.019). This investigation suggested that males and individuals with a higher educational background are more likely to possess optimistic perspectives concerning the impacts of ecotourism. Furthermore, individuals residing in districts relatively near ecotourism destinations, those engaged in tourism-related work, and younger participants were recognized as having optimistic viewpoints regarding the impacts of ecotourism. In conclusion, the study highlighted the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to maximize ecotourism’s benefits and minimize negative effects in SMNP. To achieve this, it is recommended that the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Agency, the Ministry of Tourism, and local government should work together to develop sustainable tourism plans that enhance local livelihoods and park conditions. Efforts should focus on increasing the participation of females and individuals with lower education levels through training and resource provision.

Key words: Ecotourism, Perception of ecotourism impacts, Ecotourism participation, Protected area resident, World heritage site, Semien Mountains National Park (SMNP), Ethiopia

ABUHAY Tewodros, TESHOME Endalkachew, MULU Gashaw. A tale of duality: Community perceptions towards the ecotourism impacts on Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia[J]. Regional Sustainability, 2023, 4(4): 453-464.

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References 43

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Dimension	Item	Mean	Standard deviation
Economic impact	Ecotourism brings economic benefits for the residents.	3.95	0.75
	Ecotourism contributes to improving incomes and living standards.	4.00	0.72
	Ecotourism creates a local business environment.	4.05	0.72
	Ecotourism creates employment opportunities for local residents.	4.28	0.69
	Ecotourism encourages investments and infrastructure improvement.	4.21	0.75
	Ecotourism promotes the development of local products by creating new market.	3.86	0.89
	Ecotourism generates substantial tax revenues for government.	3.65	1.00
Average score of economic impacts		4.00	0.78
Socio-cultural impact	Ecotourism provides cultural exchange and education opportunities to the host community.	4.33	0.51
	Ecotourism facilitates the development of community facilities and services.	4.14	0.54
	Ecotourism preserves cultural values and customs of the community.	3.91	0.59
	Ecotourism creates new learning opportunities for residents.	4.05	0.57
	Ecotourism increases pride in cultural identity.	4.04	0.55
Average score of socio-cultural impacts		4.09	0.55
Environmental impact	Ecotourism would help to protect the natural environment in community.	4.02	0.72
	Ecotourism would create decent and conducive living environment for the host community.	3.96	0.69
	Ecotourism would contribute for the productions of fauna and flora.	4.08	0.61
	Ecotourism helps nature to be valued and protected.	4.11	0.71
	Ecotourism creates awareness about the importance and value of natural and cultural sites.	3.97	0.81
Average score of environmental impacts		4.03	0.70

Variable		Mean	Standard deviation	F-value	P-value
Gender	Male	27.98	3.93	4.60	0.000
Gender	Female	23.52	1.67	4.60	0.000
Age	18-29 years old	29.11	4.28	1.34	0.039
	30-45 years old	28.12	4.25
	46-60 years old	27.73	4.06
	Above 60 years old	27.12	2.47
Level of education	Illiterate	29.00	2.74	5.33	0.001
	Read and write	29.33	3.77
	Primary school	30.12	0.29
	Secondary school	31.40	6.88
	College diploma and above	31.50	5.12
Location	Debark Woreda	29.05	3.42	7.71	0.001
	Janamora Woreda	27.50	2.86
	Beyeda Woreda	27.05	5.22

Variable		Regression coefficient (B)		Standard error	Wald chi-square	Odds ratio	P-value	Confidence interval
Variable		Regression coefficient (B)		Standard error	Wald chi-square	Odds ratio	P-value	2.5%	97.5%
Gender	Male		0.342	0.198	2.983	1.409	0.044	0.312	7.410
Gender	Female		0.122	0.112	1.186	1.118	0.121	0.012	3.143
Age	18-29 years old		1.175	0.431	7.382	3.240	0.002	1.158	12.232
	30-45 years old		0.831	0.346	3.856	2.298	0.049	1.113	6.730
	46-60 years old		0.499	0.363	1.702	1.645	0.071	0.693	3.890
	Above 60 years old		0.092	0.255	0.227	1.096	0.635	0.415	1.387
Level of education	Illiterate		0.103	0.340	0.092	1.196	0.762	0.461	2.461
	Read and write		0.259	0.396	0.439	1.296	0.049	0.576	3.972
	Primary school		0.558	0.452	1.478	1.748	0.031	0.724	4.823
	Secondary school		0.834	0.511	2.679	2.303	0.021	0.878	12.101
	College diploma and above		1.154	0.981	1.383	3.170	0.019	0.781	5.122
Location	Debark Woreda		1.128	0.362	9.709	3.090	0.002	1.288	12.214
	Janamora Woreda		0.847	0.291	8.471	2.332	0.060	1.352	7.938
	Beyeda Woreda		0.413	0.278	2.207	1.510	0.101	0.166	2.429
Benefit from ecotourism			0.812	0.220	13.590	2.253	0.001	0.790	11.540
Degree of community attachment			0.496	0.207	5.810	1.641	0.061	0.420	10.110

Variable		Mean	Standard deviation	F-value	P-value
Gender	Male	20.61	1.85	5.23	0.010
Gender	Female	18.43	1.99	5.23	0.010
Age	18-29 years old	20.34	2.01	5.44	0.000
	30-45 years old	20.43	2.13
	46-60 years old	20.80	1.65
	Above 60 years old	20.50	1.20
Level of education	Illiterate	20.09	1.89	4.88	0.010
	Read and write	20.63	2.00
	Primary school	20.84	1.62
	Secondary school	20.90	1.48
	College diploma and above	21.85	2.34
Location	Debark Woreda	20.21	1.40	3.90	0.098
	Janamora Woreda	20.12	2.10
	Beyeda Woreda	20.12	2.40

Variable		Mean	Standard deviation	F-value	P-value
Gender	Male	22.12	1.54	4.16	0.089
Gender	Female	22.43	1.21	4.16	0.089
Age	18-29 years old	21.34	1.01	4.12	0.451
	30-45 years old	22.12	2.11
	46-60 years old	23.43	1.33
	Above 60 years old	23.56	1.33
Level of Education	Illiterate	21.5	1.33	4.31	0.040
	Read and write	22.34	2.32
	Primary school	23.21	1.34
	Secondary school	23.89	1.65
	College diploma and above	24.56	1.41
Location	Debark Woreda	22.32	3.29	5.18	0.120
	Janamora Woreda	22.11	4.10
	Beyeda Woreda	22.12	1.30