FESTIVALS FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ETHIPIOA; A CASE OF AWI HORSEMEN ASSOCIATION FESTIVAL, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Ethiopia specifically Awi zone is enriched in beautiful cultural and spiritual festivals which are so unique and could have a contribution for tourism development. These potential festivals used for tourism development are not exploited and yet not experienced by tourists or visitors. Moreover, the role of these festivals in tourism development remains unclear. Thus, the study mainly concerned on about the role of Festivals for tourism development in case of Awi Horsemen Association festival in Awi zone. The study used qualitative research approach and used case study as a research design. The study had employed purposive and snowball sampling techniques to collect data from Awi zone culture and tourism office, Awi horsemen association leaders and members, festival participants of the local communities and hotel managers. So as to collect data and information, the study used both Primary sources from personal observation, key informant interview and focus group discussion. In this regard, the interview conducted with 14 key informants and one focus group discussion with eight (8) selected individuals. And secondary sources were from document and book review and by analyzing different journals and audio-visual documents. The information that collected from the representative of the given respondents had analyzed and discussed in detail by arranging data in groups or classes according to thematic and assigning of symbols to each of the category of responses. In the discussion, the seven house agaw horsemen association has a significant role in socio-cultural related to escorting the guest, accompanying wedding and mourning ceremonies and settling the disputes. The unique experiences of the horsemen association which can helps to create the image of the destination are the involvement of female horsemen in horse riding race, the involvement of the blind horsemen in the horse riding race and horsemen’s horse riding talent shows. The Awi horsemen association festival has also an important role for further developments in short term that the business centers could sell their products to the attended guests and in the long term the infrastructural developments and the living standard of the local community would be achieved. To make a major attraction center and a tool for tourism development, not only the government bodies but also as many other concerned bodies as possible should release fund and be on the side of the horsemen association for tourism development process. The local government and the tourism offices should work closely and cooperatively to use the untapped tourism potentials of Awi horsemen association festival in the study area.