The untold tourism potentials of Bela Mountain, for community-based-ecotourism development, ecosystem conservation and livelihood improvement, Waghimera Zone, Ethiopia

Community-based ecotourism is a type of tourism that takes economic, environmental, and socio-cultural sustainability into account. This research aimed to identify tourism potentials for community-based ecotourism business development and mountain ecosystem conservation for livelihood improvement in the area near Bela Mountain. A cross-sectional study design with the mixed method was employed. Key informants' data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The majority, 88.8% agreed that Bela Mountain has huge natural physical tourism potentials and 91.3% of respondents agreed that the site has huge biological tourism potentials for community-based ecotourism development. Those biological tourism resources have a significant value for ecosystem conservation. The study area is full of man-made ecotourism potentials and the area is gifted with major cultural ecotourism resources. A combination of spectacular land scenery, diversified flora species, amazing cliffs and caves makes Bela Mountain and its environs a rich opportunity for the development of community-based ecotourism.