Drivers and Barriers of Pastoral Community Engagement in Tourism

Community participation is seen as a philosophy profoundly implanted in convictions determined from the social and political speculations; Community engagement is regarded as the best model to ensure tourism development all over the world, but there are drivers and barriers specific to the case of developing countries. Indeed, local community engagement has become the main issue to ensure the economic development of a given community and a means to achieve sustainable tourism development in developing countries like Ethiopia. South Omo Zone is the most graced with cultural diversity, due to the home of 15The author was born January 1994 in Maale South Omo Zone SNNPRS of Ethiopia. He pursued his BSc degree in Ecotourism and Cultural Heritage Management from Hawassa University and MA degree in Hospitality Management from the Same University. Currently he is working in Maale Woreda Office of Culture and Tourism. indigenous ethnics. However, the engagement of the local community in tourism development in areas with marginalized pastoral and agro-pastoral community has been omitted in the existing literature. Therefore, researcher provides the practical recommendations.