POTENTIAL TOURISM ATTRACTIONS AND THEIR CHALLENGES OF COMMUNITY BASED ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN AWI ZONE: THE CASE OF LAKE ZENGENA, ETHIOP

Abstract

Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the world. Tourism development is highly in touch with natural and cultural resources. Due to this, our country has an immense potential of natural and cultural resources. Likewise, Zengena Lake is among those natural attractions which have tourism development importance. While due to low number of visitor and thereby the beautifulness of the environment. The lake and its surrounding attraction become faces problem. Therefore, the major purpose of the study was identifying tourism potential attractions and their challenges the case of Lake Zengena. This study was used purposive sampling method and both primary and secondary sources were used. From the selected area 60 respondent were used. The primary data was collected by using Questioner, field observing, interviewing and secondary data was collected from books, internet and documents reviews. The main tourism potentials in and around the Lake Zengena include natural (diverse species of birds, scenic landscape, lakes and some mammals and cultural attractions,(handcraft dancing, wearing style) and their recreational activities such as swimming and horse riding etc. The local communities are participating as tour guide and they are also providing local handicraft and local food and beverage to the clien