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

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ecotourism and conservation are among the major issues of concern in the study of protected areas, yet the nexus between ecotourism and biodiversity conservation is still dynamic and debatable, especially in emerging economies. This study conceptualizes the relationship between ecotourism and biodiversity conservation by drawing on a case study of the Bale Mountains National Park in Ethiopia. The study used a quantitative research approach to investigate and parameterize the dynamic ecotourism components, and a qualitative approach to explore the nexus between ecotourism and conservation and its major challenges. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires by intercepted 389 park visitors, and semi-structured interviews by recruited 20 participants from representative stakeholders between September 2017 and February 2018. The findings unfold that conceptually ecotourism development and conservation can be positively inter-linked, but practically, ecotourism-conservation conflict is precarious in protected areas due to major burdens, such as low level of education and awareness, less community participation, unfair distribution of benefits and costs, inadequate sustainable financing, and other environmental pressures associated with population growth. The findings enlighten the ongoing conflicts and sustainable symbiosis between ecotourism and conservation, and this calls urgent policy intervention, especially to integrate the principles and practices of ecotourism with the neoliberal conservation approach.