Economic Significance of Tourism Activity in Gibe Sheleko National Park, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess economic significance of tourism activities in Gibe Sheleko National Park in February to June 2019. The study also used both primary and secondary source of data in order to gather information from the subject. The primary data were collected by means of face to face Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion, Interview, Field Observation and Secondary Sources were also collected from text book, internet, website, and newspaper. For the purpose of this study, purposive sample techniques were employed to select the respondents and fill the questionnaires and interview of the key informant. The 99 total respondents were also taken from the national park. The study was analyzed the paper by using descriptive data analysis. In view of tourism as economic activity the paper indicates its contribution for the economic significance of the area. Such as: - income generation, employment creation, investment and development. The negative impacts which affect the national park were deforestation, overcrowding, environmental hazard and instability. Hence, the findings of the study revealed that the economic significance of tourism activities in Gibe Sheleko National Park was sell local product, selling food and beverage from the service of hotel and gaining money from hires of bed rooms. The study also recommended some possible solution in order to improve the contribution of tourism in the area.