Tourist Destination Management Practices Comparative Study Of Awash And Simien Mountains National Parks

The main objective of this study was to analyze the destination management practices in Awashrnand Simien Mountains National Parks in Ethiopia. Destination management is a complexrnphenomena associated partly with dynamic needs of tourists and unpredictable nature of thernglobe, requires strategic thinking and advanced approaches. The emergence of new destinationrnwith unique features leads to strong competition and increment of tourist leads the need to putrnthe right management process in place. The study employed mixed research approach wherernboth quantitative and qualitative data was collected from none randomly selected respondents. Arntotal of 144 questionnaires were collected from tourists. Qualitative data through key informantrninterviews were collected among park wardens, Parks’ experts, and local tourism experts.rnAdditionally qualitative data were collected through FGD in participating local communities’rnleaders. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, such as frequency,rnpercentage, mean and Std. deviation and independent t-test, while qualitative data was analyzedrnthrough content analysis. The study revealed that even though, there are immense destinationrnattributes in each destination, there is lack and no existence of tourist services and facilitiesrnprovisions adequately and efficiently in answering requests of tourists, additionally eco- logicalrnfacilities as part of destination management practice is at low level. The finding also indicatedrnthat there is lack and weak stakeholders’ cooperation and partnership in destinationrnmanagement of study areas. This finding further revealed that, Awash National park is betterrnaccommodation services, ecological management and availability of birds watching opportunity.rnWhile SMNP was better in attractions’ verity, unspoiled nature and opportunity for adventure.rnGenerally this study shows there is a significant difference in tourist destination managementrnpractices of these study areas. The study also revealed the urge for devotions of destinations tornprovide adequate and efficient destination products and services, weak and unavailability ofrnstakeholders’ partnership in destination management, in line with low level of ecologicalrnmanagement practices of each parks. All these recommend the need to make cooperation inrndestinations service provisions and environmental management practices.

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