Potentials and Pitfalls of Dirre Sheik Hussein Religious and Cultural Site in Tourism Development, Ethiopia

Abstract

Assessing the potentials and drawback of tourist destination is the first step in tourism development of a particular site. Dirre Sheik Hussein is one of religious and cultural site of Ethiopia blessed with several cultural and natural tourist attraction resources. But, assessment of sits potentials and pitfalls are not carried out in the site so far. Therefore, this study is conducted to assess the potentials and pitfalls of Dirre Sheik Hussein in tourism development.To realize this objective the researcher employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. In this study both primary and secondary data sources have been used. Significant primary data was collected through interview, focus group discussion and direct observation. Both purposive and simple random sampling method also used to select informants. Finally, in data analyze process both qualitative and quantitative data analysis method has been used. Accordingly, the research result shows that Dirre Sheik Hussein site has both potentials and pitfalls in tourism development.

Climate Change and Pilgrimage to Shrines in Ethiopia

“…Wealthier or international travellers can make their way from Haile Selassie Airport (Addis Ababa) through to Dirre Sheikh Hussein via Robe Airport, although it is more than 100 km to the southwest. Infrastructure that might encourage tourism to the shrine tends to be poor [32], and the airport at Dirre Sheikh Hussein was damaged during the Ethiopian-Somali war (1977)(1978) so it is no longer functioning, although there has occasionally been talk of reconstructing it.…”