The Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID 19 and North Ethiopia War Impact on Tourism Sectors and Community Living: The Case of Lalibela Town in the case of Roha kebele Tourism Surrounding

Abstract

The general objective of this study is to assess the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 and the 2014 northern part of the Ethiopian war on the tourism sector in Lalibela town, in the case of Roha Kebele tourism surrounding. The study used a mixed research approach: for the quantitative method, a closed-ended questionnaire was used, and for the qualitative method, interviews with key informants and in-depth interviews were conducted. For this study, the sampling technique used was non probability sampling, which is a purposive sampling technique for key informants and interviews. The result of the survey was that more of them indicated males who belong to the 26–35 age range, and the most frequency indicated 248 (72%), a university or college. This frequency explained that more of them are educated, most of them have a job, and they have a high income. In engaging in the tourism sector, they get income from the sector, but this sector was influenced by COVID and war because they get their income from foreign investment in tourism. The contribution of the tourism sector is very low, but this sector has a benefit for the local community, religious leaders, tour guides, and other tourism experts. The result of an in-depth interview of the information shows that some tourists and local guides suffered from psychological impact and poverty, which they survived. And during the war and pandemic, most of the residents of the area have defected because they were affected because the residents of the area are managed by tourism and directly or indirectly depend on tourism and tourism-related activity. And the impact of COVID and war is highly affected by people's lifestyle changes in terms of social, economic, and political aspects. The result of the key informant interview with Lalibela city administration culture and tourism office, heritage protection, and tourism development work process coordinator, Mandefro Tadese, told him that Lalibela’s economic trading is based on tourism as a food resource. Despite the Corona crisis, 50 to 60 foreign tourists visit the city every year. They told me that the first level of tourism affected by Corona is to stop the movement of visitors completely .The day after the war, in 2015, hope for coming tourists saw a surge in tourism. They planned that more than 2 million people would visit the city in nine months. Gossip in Siders visited the city more than planned; in their lives, their numbers are increasing. Ethiopians are coming and visiting not only on birth days but also at other times. That 1.9 million Ethiopians stayed in the city for up to five days. 21. They said that only three ideas came to the city, expecting that foreigners would visit the city, but they refused. The researchers recommend As lalibela is a core tourist destination area in Ethiopia there must be much development like infrastructure (road, electricity, network and internet) so local administration and as well as the federal government have to give focus for the development of lalibela because during war destroyed road, electric, network and other fulfillments so government focused lalibela.