Practice and Challenges of Heritage Interpretation in Ethiopia: A case of Fasil Ghebbi World Heritage Site, Gondar, Ethiopia

Abstract

Interpretation of heritage is becoming a major challenge as important components of human culture are misinterpreted and endangered throughout the world. Tourism can only be developed in a sustainable manner if the heritage is properly interpreted. The purpose of this research is to assess practices and challenges of heritage interpretation in Ethiopia: A Case of Fasil Ghebbi World Heritage Site, Gondar. One of the world heritages sites of Ethiopia inscribed by UNESCO. The design for the practical investigation is descriptive. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used. The key data gathering instruments were questionnaires, interviews, and observation. This study was based on both primary and secondary sources. The respondents were provided primary data via 200 surveys and 5 interviews. The results of the research show that Fasil Ghebbi World heritage site heritage interpretation procedures have a number of weaknesses. These are some of the issues that need to be addressed. As a result, it is very difficult to provide a unique interpretation of the heritage sites. Hence, there is a need for the heritage site interpretation system to be re-organized and to develop a workable legislative framework from the UNESCO organization and national heritage authority (state party) as well as at the site level.