Ecotourism Development Plan: Omo National Park and surroundings, Southern Ethiopia

The ONP supports globally threatened and flagship species including African Elephant, Common Eland, African Buffalo, Lelwel Hartebeest, topi, African Wild dog, lion and other conservation importance species. The park is also more important area for the biome restricted and globally threatened bird species. It also contained unique natural heritages with outstanding beauty; diverse attractions and great tourism potentials in and environs including cultural and archeological assets. ONP locations in the Great Ethiopian Rift and cultural route, unique wildlife, and natural beauty underpin its ecotourism potentials. With strong conservation management efforts by EWCA, stakeholders and its partners, the Park’s natural values can be preserved, and indeed enhanced, in the future. Even though there are tremendous ecotourism products that can be applicable for tourists’ satisfaction, there are several challenges and threats to realize ecotourism in ONP. Unless very significant efforts are made by EWCA and the Government to reduce human pressures in the park, the natural values of the ONP will become increasingly threatened and there is no realistic possibility for ONP ecotourism opportunities to be recognized. Therefore, Ecotourism development in ONP is depending on leveraging the conservation potential of the Park, boosting Park management capacity and increased community engagement. Key words: Ecotourism development, Omo National Park DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/69-02 Publication date: March 30th 2026