Enhancing ecotourism through developing cultural landscapes and historical spots: The case of Borena Sayint National Park

Abstract

The study was conducted in Borena Sayint National Park, north eastern Ethiopia between March 2015 andFebruary 2016. Its main objective was to document cultural and historical features in the national park withpotential for ecotourism product development. A snowball sample of 100 knowledgeable elders was selectedfrom the park fringe communities. Relevant cultural and historical features were retrieved from individualinformants’ recitations using a semi structured interview schedule and confirmed through a focus group discussion. Each cultural and historical spot was spotted, visually observed and reading of coordinate pairs taken using GPS Garmin 60 with picture as appropriate. Excel 2007 was used for data editing and computing simplearithmetic calculations. The coordinate points of each GPS readings were analyzed using ArcGIS Version 9.3Software. Content analysis of socio-cultural and historical narrative was made to describe potential ecotourismattractions. Cultural and historical spots apt for developing into cultural landscape were mapped using theircoordinate points. These include 16 cattle kraals, 21 antique hive posts, 4 antique palace grounds, 4 antique forts, 20 ritual sites and 25 caves. These features can be reconstructed into cultural landscapes for ecotourismattractions and hence, diversify the ecotourism product potential of BSNP. Judicious integration of culturallandscapes and historical spots with unique geomorphic features, biodiversity and biocultural values can make the national park an outstanding platform for ecotourists attractions.