The Status of Tourist Guides and Tourism Management in and Around the City of Gondar

Abstract

The  economy  of  Ethiopia  has  prospered  for  many  years  on  agricultural  products.  In  recent  years, however, the country expandsitsindustrialization and service providing in order to gain further incomes. Tourism is an important strategy ofsocio-economic development for countries which have rich historical, religious and socio cultural sites. Ethiopia is rich in multidimensionalheritages. The main attractions tend to  be  of  a  historical  and  religious  nature. The  city  of Gondar  which  formerly  served  as  the  capital  of medieval Ethiopia holds the vestiges of numerous royal castles, including those in Fasil Gebbi, and other ancient churches attracting tourists from different parts of the world. Gondar also serves as a spring board for  tourists  who  have  vested  intereststo  visit  mount  Ras  Dashen  of  Ethiopia  and  others.  The  main objective of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of challenges and prospects of tourist Guides in and around  the  city  of  Gondar  and  historical  development  of  tourist  guidein  the  study  area,  with  particular reference to the opportunities and challenges that the industry faces in order to provide future direction for sustainable  tourism and  community development to the  country. The  study is analyzed  using qualitative method  of  data  collection. The  sample  includeskeyinformantsfrom  tourist  guide  centers  in  the  city  of Gondar  and  some  otherlocal  communitymembersand  foreign  tourists.  Semi-structured  interviews  and focus  group  discussions  were  used in  addition to  review  of  secondary  sources. The  results of this  study show  that  the  Gondar  city  administration  tried  to manage  and  preserve  heritage  sites  in  and  around  the city of Gondar. However, it is identified that almost all heritage site isin danger of ruin. In any country which  needs  sustainable  development  of  tourist  industry,  there  should be tourist  guides’  controlling mechanism.  One  of  these  mechanisms  should  be  licensing  and  relicensing  of  tourist  guides  by  putting standards to qualify as a tourist guidethrough short or long trainingstrategies.