Tourism Development Policy Awareness as a Means for Promoting Sustainability: Practices from the Ethiopian Tourism Development Policy

Abstract

The major purpose of this study is to examine the awareness level of tourism experts on the issues of tourism development policy for promoting sustainable tourism development in Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, quantitative and qualitative study approach, and purposive sampling technique were employed for both questionnaire and interview data gathering instruments. Quantitatively, thirty nine sample tourism experts were participated from the ministry, bureau, zonal and city experts and the collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, correlation, ANOVA, Post hoc and independent t-test. Qualitative data were collected from eight experts and analyzed through interpretative and descriptive account of the data; and the major find­ings of the study are presented. Accordingly, the t-test and ANOVA confirmed that there were statistically significant difference between the awareness level of BA/BSc and MA/MSc experts and those who have worked under ten years and above in the industry on tourism development policy concepts. Approach to correlation, statistically a significant relation was found between the tourism development policy elements of Ethiopia. Regardless of contribution, the ANOVA revealed that there was statistically a significant difference between those who have worked under ten years and above on the role of tourism development policy in the Ethiopian tourism industry. Furthermore, the t-test indicated that MA/MSc experts were predominant in awareness about the role of tourism development policy for sustainability. Finally, it is concluded that tourism development policy and sustainable tourism are closely related variables and it can play vital roles in the sustainable development of Ethiopian tourism industry.