Abstract:
Ecotourism is a recently emerged concept described as an ecologically friendly, economically
viable, and socially acceptable form of tourism. It has basic principles for conservation of the
environment, local culture, and ensuring the major beneficiary and participation of local
communities. The purpose of this study was to assess the challenges and prospects of ecotourism
and its implications on local economic development: the case of Arsi Negelle woreda of West Arsi
Zone. To achieve the objective of the study employed a descriptive survey design and both
quantitative and qualitative mixed-method was employed. In this study, both quantitative and
qualitative research approaches were employed. The researcher took a total of 184 respondents
(157 Sample respondents, 9 key informant interviews, and three FGDs or 18 people from local
communities) who were included in the study. A stratified sampling method was used to randomly
select kebeles. Lowland, midland, and highland agroecology were considered as the based three
strata of sampling techniques. From each stratum, one kebele was selected and thus a total of 3
Kebeles were selected for the study using a simple random sampling method. The data were
gathered through a questionnaire, key informant interview, focus group discussion, field
observation, and document analysis. The quantitative data were analyzed using frequency and
percentage when appropriate while qualitative data were used to triangulate and substantiate the
study. The result of the study reveals that several challenges against the ecotourism development to
local economic development in the study area were identified as follows lack of safety and security,
lack of community awareness, lack of trained manpower, the absence of clean tap water, and
seasonal nature of the business, language barriers for efficient communication with tourists, lack
of cooperation among stakeholders, naturally and culturally incompatible infrastructural
developments, cultural commercialization and abuse from tourists and community are among the
challenges which merely seeks quick intervening solutions. The research investigated the
challenges of developing ecotourism in the study area. The effort made to improve the participation
of the local community through ecotourism development is very low. So, continuous awareness
creation and encouragement should be given to the local community to increase their status in
ecotourism development activities. In light of those circumstances, the study strongly
recommends that Arsi Negelle Woreda Culture and Tourism Office to use ecotourism as
alternative economic sources through local community empowerments and involvement were the
main challenge of ecotourism development activities
