ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD OPTIONS AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM: THE CASE OF GICH COMMUNITY RESETTLEMENT, DEBARK/SEMIN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study area being a resettled site for the people, does not have adequate information to survive in such different geographical conditions and lack of knowledge towards new form of businesses limit them to work out for the alternative sources of livelihood . These communities were previously depending upon agriculture for food, income and for their day today survival. The factors prevalent in this resettled site have compelled the community to get involved in unsustainable practices. So, the objective of the study is to look out for an alternative livelihood options for Gich local community of Semin Mountain National Parks (Newly resettled site of Debark). The study is descriptive in its nature and qualitative & quantitative research methodology was adopted. Data collection was done on the basis of personal interviews through questionnaire survey and Focus Group Discussions. Frequency, percentage, average mean, one way ANOVA, independent t-test, one sample test and paired correlation were employed. Local communities which have settled near and around the park have best possible livelihood opportunities such as off-farm activities (carpenter, masonry, house painting, timber house, mill , bakery etc..), small scale agro-based practices like ( poultry , livestock rearing, dairy, fruit orchards etc.), tourism product development ( handy crafts, traditional coffee , local beer , honey beer, traditional restaurants, traditional music house or “Azmari”, and tourism sector related employment ( souvenir shops, chefs, tour guides, guards of hotel, cleaners , housekeepers, porters and raw material suppliers to local restaurants).As stakeholders were not able to solve the resettlement issues of the residents, they were unable to have community associations, lack of electricity and transportation facilitiesin and around the site which makes local inhabitants dissatisfied about their resettlement.