Abstract
Prehistoric rock art is one of the earliest form of human communication system. It has an aesthetic, spiritual, socio – cultural and artistic values. This study has attempted to address the role of rock art tourism for sustainable socio-economic development with the objective of describing the potential of rock art sites for tourism in Harar – Dire Dawa and in its environs. It also tried to identify challenges facing the rock art sites; and examining trends of sustainable rock art tourism development and preparing a code of conducts for rock art and surrounding tour. Data analysis showed that rock art and its surrounding resources have a high potential for sustainable tourism development in the region. The study follows a mixed method of research design. The result also revealed that the main challenges facing rock art sites of the study area are natural and human factors that affect the values of the sites. Therefore, this important resource should be properly managed and promoted as to develop a significant tourist destination, and it also assists the socio –economic development of the region. Key words: Rock art, tourism, cultural tourism, sustainable tourism.
Highlights
Dire Dawa area is known for its natural and cultural heritage. Those heritages include caves and shelters with rock art; cemeteries of British and African soldiers who died during the war against Fascist Italy in eastern Africa; various historical houses with French, Greek, and Armenian architectural influences because of their migration to the city for industrial and commercial purposes; railway museum, and cultural centers which housed material cultures of the Somali and Oromo people are major attractions of the city (Dire Dawa Culture and Tourism Office (DDCTO), 2008)
Girma (2001) mentioned that pastoralism closely linked with rock art sites situated in southern Ethiopia
Mandela‟s statement shows that rock art sites are a heritage resource and they are a universal heritage of all mankind
Summary
Dire Dawa area is known for its natural and cultural heritage. Those heritages include caves and shelters with rock art; cemeteries of British and African soldiers who died during the war against Fascist Italy in eastern Africa; various historical houses with French, Greek, and Armenian architectural influences because of their migration to the city for industrial and commercial purposes; railway museum, and cultural centers which housed material cultures of the Somali and Oromo people are major attractions of the city (Dire Dawa Culture and Tourism Office (DDCTO), 2008).Harar (the other focus of this study) is one of the national regional states of Ethiopia. Dire Dawa area is known for its natural and cultural heritage. Those heritages include caves and shelters with rock art; cemeteries of British and African soldiers who died during the war against Fascist Italy in eastern Africa; various historical houses with French, Greek, and Armenian architectural influences because of their migration to the city for industrial and commercial purposes; railway museum, and cultural centers which housed material cultures of the Somali and Oromo people are major attractions of the city (Dire Dawa Culture and Tourism Office (DDCTO), 2008). The term “Harar” is derived from among seven ancient settlements which is known as “Harawe gey”. It is located about 50 km southeast of Dire Dawa. The walled city called Jugol was once the seat of an old Islamic sultanate founded around 10th century (HCTB, 2010)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
