Community Knowledge and Support of Ecotourism in the World Heritages Sites of Simien Mountain National Park

Abstract

Purpose: An in-depth investigation into locals' familiarity with and support for ecotourism development is necessary to ensure the long-term viability of responsible and sustainable tourism. This study aimed to assess the protected area communities' knowledge and level of support for eco-tourism and its development in the Semien Mountain National Park, North Gondar, Ethiopia. Design/methodology/approach: The study employed a mixed research approach and an explanatory design. A multi- stage sampling was used to select 397 samples of respondents from three districts. As methods for gathering data, surveys, interviews and focus group discussions were all employed. Percentages, averages, t-tests, analysis of variance, regression models and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data. Findings: More than half of the respondents (57.2%) were unable to know what tourist is, even though the study found that 93.5% of respondents had a fair understanding of what tourism involved. Nearly three-quarters of the respondents said that their main sources of tourism-related information were their friends and the government. In the multiple regression model, all independent variables together account for about 38.7% of the total variance in the dependent variable. Only three factors significantly contributed to the prediction of the variation in ecotourism support: ecotourism benefit (β = 24, p = 0.001, gender (β =0.47, p = 0.000), and family size (β=0.12, p =.005. Research limitations/implications: Variables, time, and space were limitations on this study. All elements influencing local communities' support for ecotourism development were not exhaustively considered. This research may not apply to other places with differing social, cultural, and environmental settings. This study is also cross-sectional, which means it does not provide information on how local understanding and support for ecotourism may evolve over time. Originality/value: Many studies have examined the consequences of tourism on host communities and tourist attitudes toward ecotourism, but few have examined local understanding and support of ecotourism development. As a result, this study can provide novel perspectives and knowledge that can enhance comprehension of this phenomenon, influence policymaking and practical applications, and ultimately foster the progression of the field.