Abstract:
Community-Based Ecotourism has become the most basic tool to meet sustainable tourism and
livelihood demand across the world in general and developing Countries in particular. However
there was the challenges that hinders development of community based ecotourism.This study
was conducted to identify the Potentials, Challenges and perceptions of community towards
community based ecotourism at Haro Aba Diko Controlled Hunting area, western
oromia, Ethiopia. In order to achieve the objective of the study both primary and secondary data
were used. Purposive and simple random sampling methods were used to select three kebeles
surrounding the study area and 140 sample respondents respectively.To select key informant,
snow ball method was used. The quantitative data was analyzed using frequency, percentage and
mean while the qualitative data was used to triangulate and substantiate the study. The result of
the study indicated that Haro Aba Diko Controlled Hunting area had huge resource potential
such as attractive flora and fauna varied in types and, Dabena and Didesa rivers that are
potential resource of fish species with attractive cultural resource like Cultural dance, cultural
food and drinks, coffee ceremony, Dressing style, Traditional ways of conflict resolutions
mechanisms (Jaarssummaa) are potentials Resource for community based ecotourism
establishment. Although it had this potentials, the community based ecotourism establishment is
constrained by lack of awareness, basic infrastructures, tourism professionals, integrations
between community and licensed Tour operator and government organizations, and Illegal
activity of community like Settlements within the Controlled Hunting Area and Conversions of
forest lands to Agricultural lands. To empower the establishment of community based
ecotourism, awareness creation program, promotion activity, filling gap of community social
infrastructures and further study in the study area should be needed.
