Solimar International - 2010 - Minimizing threats to biodiversity conservation

Despite Ethiopia’s rich tourism potential from its diversity of visitor attractions, a weak international image along with limited tourism products and facilities hinder the country’s ability to reap greater economic benefits. Additionally, many key natural attractions are under threat due to growing populations in surrounding areas, inadequate protected area management, expansion of grazing areas, illegal logging, and unregulated industry.

Solimar’s overall objective in Ethiopia is to upgrade the quality and quantity of tourism products and infrastructure as well as to strengthen the country’s international image through marketing and promotion. This, in turn, will increase the country’s private sector competitiveness so that Ethiopia can emerge as a major tourism destination. It will also help conserve some of the country’s most prized natural resources.


The Ethiopia Sustainable Tourism Alliance (ESTA) is a USAID-funded program established to promote biodiversity conservation and provide communities with alternative livelihoods through the development of sustainable tourism. The geographic focus of the project includes: The Central Rift Valley, Southern Rift Valley, Bale Mountains, and Awash National Park. By working with a variety of local stakeholders (including representatives from the government, private sector, and local community groups), the ESTA will frame the design and planning of sustainable tourism development in these areas for the next five years.		This will include a series of activities focused on conservation and ecotourism development, private sector competitiveness, workforce development, and handcraft development, all underpinned by cross cutting activities that employ social networking and communications methodologies, and that also seek to mainstream HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention throughout the tourism value chain.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• Creation of 12 community conservation areas supported by income from ecotourism activity

• Development of high-quality, market-driven ecotourism and handcrafts products, supported by grants, targeted training, and marketing assistance

• Construction of two eco-lodges in strategically chosen project areas through investment promotion activities

•Creation of a travelers’ philanthropy program in order to harness contributions from tourists that will contribute to key conservation and health initiatives

•Creation of a National Geographic Geotourism MapGuide to promote the natural, cultural, and historical riches of Ethiopia

• Improvement of the current tourism and conservation policy environment

•Expansion of aggressive HIV/AIDS awareness campaign to the tourism sector and ESTA project areas