Abstract:
Domestic tourism is worldwide to maintain the sustainability of a country’s tourism industry by
generating a tourism market able to continue travel. So far, to the best of the researcher’s
knowledge, there has been no study conducted in the area. So, this research mainly focused on
identifying and assessing tourism potential resources, opportunities and challenges of domestic
tourism development in Yilmana Densa woreda. The study design of the research was qualitative
approaches and descriptive design. Whereas the sampling design was a non-probability
sampling technique, specifically purposive sampling was used. The target population for this
study were employees of Yilmana Densa woreda administration, culture and tourism, road and
transport, agriculture, environment and forest protection and Yilmana Densa woreda diocese,
attraction sites owners and local communities, accommodations owners of Adet town, employees
of ANRS culture and tourism bureau and elders and familiars of the woreda. 51 key interviews
and 10 FGD respondents participated. To conduct this research, both primary and secondary
sources of data were used. The data collection tools were FGD, semi-structured interviews, and
Observation. Adama mountain, Angar hot springs, Debere Mewi Mariam, Abune Zereabruk and
Adet Medhanialem monasteries, Ageta Eyesus and Angar Qusquam churches and Abola
Mountain are assessed natural and cultural tourism potentials. Whereas proximity and
accessibility to Bahir Dar City, accessibility of tourism resources, market availability and
economic productivity, diversified tourism resources, the emergence of tourism investment, the
emergence of annual religious festivals and participation of young spiritual associations,
relative safety and security, tourism sector organizations and legal frameworks, working culture
and hospitality, development plans, and Adet hospital and tourism Amenities are identified as
opportunities. On the other hand, poor quality of road, shortage of budget and finance, lack of
(accessibility, attention of tourism industry, promotion, infrastructures, heritage conservation,
and management and coordination among stakeholders), land encroachment, drainage problem,
poor quality accommodations, threat of illicit trafficking and lack of museum are the identified
challenges. The researcher suggested collaboration work to improve and construct quality
facilities and infrastructures, accommodations and doing heritage conservation, management
plan, promotion, and museum of sites.
