Despite dire dawa has been stated as, Jewel of the Railway. Hidden beyond the mountains which remind, one of hell, standing on fine sand In the middle of Somali prairieland, is full of smiles peoples with its flower - scented environment. (Shiferaw Bekele pp1-2)

Until the late 19th century, Dire Dawa was just a vast plain inhabited by nomads. People from the plateaus of Harar used to come to graze their cattle. Some small villages existed on the hills around the plain, but no people lived in the area that is today called Dire Dawa.

On March 9, 1884, Menelik ii granted permission to Mr.Ilg, a Swiss engineer to build a railroad connecting Djibouti while Mile through Harar and Entoto. on April 27,1896 France gave the permission to cross the territory of Djibouti. On July7, 1896, Mr.Ilg and Mr,Chefneux a, French engineer, formed the society called “Compagnie imperial des chemins de fer Ethiopians’

Whatever the merit of the verse as a work of poetry it certainly expresses the feelings of a

traveler at the time that set out from Djibouti. After traveling one whole day in a slow and

Djibouti. After travelling one whole day in a slow and chugging train through barren land and in

an unbearable heat, Dire Dawa certainly strikes one as a jewel. None of the stations along the

way both from Djibouti and Addis Ababa come anywhere near Dire Dawa in size, in facilities

and in beauty. (2) Travelers were unanimous in their praise of Dire Dawa. for instance, for Rey,

who passed through the city in the middle of the 1920s is indeed the most advanced little town in

Abyssinia...''(3) Even Skinner who passed through this city in 1903 (soon after it was born) at the

head of an American delegation called it "the queen city of the desert" ! (4) The verse also points

to the link between Dire Dawa and the railway. Indeed, it was a railway city in more ways than

one. For one thing, it was the creation of the railway. Secondly, many of the buildings were

constructed by the company. Thirdly, the most modern part of the city, the area with the best

facilities and comforts, was to a very large extent administered by the compagnie du Chemin de

fer Franceo- Ethiopian de Djiboutia Addis Ababa up to 1926! And even after that the company

The main objective of this study will be to identify how the community can be benefit from the

community based tourism program and to determine whether this community are empowered to

benefit financially from the visitor on top of the dire dawa tourist attraction place; and if so, how.

The visitor itself belongs to the community and if it is properly managed, it can provide income

in an area where job prospects are virtually a few -existent. Any possible contributions by

households from the western side. Four factors were considered::

¨ The community’s attitude towards tourism in general and the people’s expectations with regard

to the project in particular;

¨ The conservation and presentation of cultural heritage with particular reference to their dietary

and musical pattern;

¨ The availability and variety of crop plants during winter and the way the Hananwa normally

prepare these foods;

General information

Location:-

Absolute between 9º27N and 9 º49 S longitude and Between49 38 E and 42 19 W latitude

Relatives the plain dire dawa is surrounded by hill 100 to 250 meters high stretching mostly from east to west

Land size the total land size of the administration is 1288 km , of which nearly 97.73% accounts for the land size of the rural areas, while the remaining 2.27% covers the land size of the urban areas of the administration .

Boundaries:-The administration shares boundaries with the Oromia national regional state in the south and southeast and the Somali national regional state in the north, east, and west.

Topography:-The altitude of the land in dire dawa administration is b/n 960-2,500meters.

Climate: The climate of the administration is basically warm, and dry with low level of precipitation.

Rain fall: The administration has bimodal rain season, and the average annual rainfall is 604 millimeters.

Temperature : The annual maximum and minimum air temperature of the administration are 31.4 c and 18.2 c respectively.

Population size : The total population of the administration at present is estimated to be 342, 827, out of which the size of the population residing in the urban areas of the administration is said to be 232,854 (67.5%) of the total population while the number of the rural population of the administration is estimated to be about 109,973(32.5%) of the total

Administration

Dire Dawa Administration is composed of 9 urban and 38 rural Kebeles

Ethnic composition of the population:-

The present residents of Dire Dawa city consist of descendents of people who came not only from nearly all the nationalities, and peoples in Ethiopia, but also from a number of European, Asian, Mid-eastern, and African countries. While the population of the rural areas of the administration, is predominantly composed of Oromo and Somalis.

Language:- Amharic is the official working language of the administration. Oromifa and Somali languages are widely spoken local languages. English, French, and Arabic languages are widely used foreign languages.

Historical cultural and Natural attraction of dire dawa administration

I. Historical and cultural attraction

1. The railway station (1902) This one century old facility used to be and still is the life line of the town. The foundation and development of the town is also closely related to it. Hence, the railway station is, apart from its being a century old, symbolizes the towns hundred years of existence. It has got a significant historical value to the town. The first manager of C, O, E is a French engineer MR, chefneux.

2. Graveyards and memorial place 2.1 Ballian crematorium

- Indian which used to live in north sides of feras-magala as soon as the foundation of Dire Dawa used this palace for the cremation of their dead fellow countrymen. The date of its foundation is not well known but supposed to be in 1930's while they established a school and library. It was located in laga hare area specifically called ganda gabare

2.2 Bololakos Grave yard (1854-1936/

The former owner of continental hotel (First Hotel in DireDawa) used to organize the community of Greeks in Dire Dawa . He also play significant role for the establishment of the Greek church and School. His Graveyard is found in kazira inside the Greek Church courtyard

2 .3 other cemetery

There are other cemeteries Christian cemetery at northern border of the town shenele on the road to Djibouti and the Muslim cemetery between Laga Harre and afta Isa

2 .4 Henry De monfred house

This building use to be the house of Henry de Monfred (1879-1974) A French adventurer author and Business man.H e used this building for establishment of the first flour factory and the first electric generating power plant of the town in the early 1920.The building is located in konel

2.5 African cemetery:-

The cemetery was built after the Second World War around1940s. It was constructed in memory of members of 3British Air Force and 70 African soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Ethiopia against the Italian invasion during World War II. For it is located close to the center of the town in number1, both local and international visitors often visit it.

2.5 Millennium park

The dire dawa Ethiopian millennium memorial park was established in 1997 by nations and nationalities of Dire Dawa , French embassy and BGI Ethiopia to celebrate the Ethiopian millennium and to promote the ancient cave paintings which were drawn before 5000 years.

The park is located on the road which stretches from St. Mary church to dire dawa airport. In the park, there is the replica of the cave paintings on huge stones brought from babile dakata and there are also five cultural houses which resemble the Amhara, Tigre, Oromo, Somali, Harari, Guraghe and other ethnic groups’ cultural houses and utensils.

There is also an am phi theatre which can accommodate more than 300 audiences at a time.

The park posses 750 trees with 5 endemic tree species; from huge trunk trees to small shrubs all are found in the park. These trees were planted by the city’s celebrities and authorities.

The park, with its spectacular view, can be a very good place to spend some quality time.

3Pre- historic sites 3.1 Porc Epic cave3.1 porc epic cave

The middle stone age site of Porc epic cave which discovered in 1929 by French priest father Teilhard dechardin& Henry Monfreid is located at 9˚.34˚.27˚.98˚.N,41˚,53˚,19˚,64˚E at an elevation of 1450m and it lies 3Km south of the city of Dire Dawa in south eastern Ethiopia , with in a series of broken faulted lime stone blocks of upper Jurassic origin. Situated near the top of Garad erer, a prominent lime stone hill that rises about 140M above the massive wadi Laga Dachatu, the cave provide an ideal setting from which to monitor migratory herds of prey and has produced Avery rich assemblage of stone tools and faunal remain (Assefa,2oo6,plerdeau 2006)

The area around the Porc Epic are located within the foot hill of south eastern escarpment at an ecotone b/y the south eastern high plateau and underlying regions of the rift valley depression. A full excavation of the caves was undertaken in 1974,1975(by Asefa, pleurdeu,William some, clark) dechardin all excavation yielded ten thousands of Lithic (stone tool)and faunal (Bone artifact) remain including (lower jaw bone of homo sapiens dating from b/n 60,000 and 77,000 years) from an aera of about 50M² (with total excavated volume of about 38m³) .painting in red, brown& black color and opercula (by kemeth willams on during the last phase exaction 1975,196), small agile mammals like hares or hyraxes also found throughout the sequence of the

cave. A detailed description of the depositional history and stratigraphic sequence of the archaeological sediments at the cave is presented elsewhere clark and William son’s (1984,44) reconstruction of depositional history concluded that the MSA artifacts were sealed and stratigraphic is distinct everywhere in the cave except the at the entrance i.e the stratigraphic integrity of their MSA level was confirmed by a recent litho logic by a team of French researcher led by Henry de/umley (pleurdeau 2001). recent geochemical research has found that some of the MSA obsidian artifact from the cave were made from obsidian originating from source as far away as 150KM (Negash and shackley 2006, vogel etal 2006) Today among 12,000 bone artifact collected from the whole division of the cave 8000 are stored in Addis Ababa National museum while the remaining 4000 kept in France (instituted paleantologie humaines]. For further information please check the internet simply writing “Porc Epic, Dire Dawa.

3.2 Lagaoda cave This cave was discovered in 1933 by Azais and oncieu De-chappardon and the caves are located some 38 kms away from the center of Dire Dawa city in the Guninfeta Peasants Association to the southwest. Three caves known locally by the names Goda-Kataba, Goda-Okotae and Goda-Buttu altogether make up Laga-oda caves. Goda-kataba that literally means a cave with written records is as such not a cave with an inlet and outlet. It is a rock shelter.

The number of rock paintings in the shelter is about 600 (Cervicek 1971). Apart from paintings, there are also written records on the wall. painting represent pictures of animals such as cow, camel, goat, bull, sheep, giraffe and H-shaped man According to the local community information referring to the other two adjacent caves is already recorded on the above mentioned inscriptions (DDAC-WMEO 2003).

In addition to this, the Laga Oda rock shelter yielded a number of stone artifacts that belong to the Later Stone Age and related faunal rests (Brandt 1986, Clark 1954, Degefa 1996).

3.3. Goda-Ajawa

This cave is located in Awale Kebele Peasants Association, the extent which should be verified further.Drawing upon the findings of the Middle and Later Stone Ages, and based on the analysis on the rock arts Porc Epic and laga oda had been dated back to 77000bp and 15500bp respectively, while the paintings at both sites could be dated to around 5000bp (Clark and etal 1984, Brandt 1986, Cervicek 1971, Degefa 1996). This undoubtedly indicates that the Dire Dawa environ is inhabited, even if intermittently, since the Middle Stone Age through Later Stone Age to the turn of the modern time. 4. Religious attraction and festival4.1. Greek ortodox's church

Finished in the late 1930's (1933) the Greek church is unique building in Dire Dawa Two bell towers guards the fronts of the church, more over the graveyard of M, R Bollalakos and Greek community, school Is located inside the cart yard of the church.

4.2 Abeyaziz MosqueLocated in Hulul Mojo Peasant Association (on the way to Laga Oda) some 25 kms away from Dire Dawa City. It is believed that it has been founded over 500 years ago.According to the nearby local community, the ancient Harla tribe that used to live around the locality is believed to have founded the single towered and currently abandoned mosque. Fragments of house utensils and grinding stones can still be seen at the site that might indicate the way of living of the ancient people, who had been settled and mastered the area.

4.2 Ancient Catholic Church

A Catholic Church, which houses a gallery with traditional religious art works, is located at Biyo-Awale Kebele Peasants Association some 20 km away from Dire Dawa City to the southwest.The Awale St. Michael Catholic Church was built in 1884 by a priest called Aba Indrias, a member of catholic missionary dispatched to eastern Ethiopia. On October 22 Pilgrims from hararghe and Dire Dawa travelled to the area to celebrate annual festivalsAccording to some church sources, the missionaries entered the country through port of Zeilla and made their primary destination at Biyo awale where the church is now located (DDAC-WMEO 2003). It can, therefore, be considered as an evidence of human activity around the Dire Dawa environ in the near past.

4.3 St. Michael Church (1918)

The St. Michael Church was founded in 1918 and was the first Ethiopian orthodox Churches in the area of Dire Dawa .the Church was build next to the Dire Dawa Palace.

4.4 Armenian Orthodox Church

This (small) Armenian Church was founded in 1935 by the Armenian architect Mr. Meniacyan, who was a famous architect in these times. The Church is located behind a wall as part of a court yard. It is still in use, but only, when Armenian members, mostly living abroad are coming to Dire Dawa.

4.5 Catholic Church

This Church was founded in 1908 by Aba Indrias. The church which found in kezira area, on the number one road is the first church in Dire Dawa city

4.7 Italian MosqueThe mosque is located at the foothill of Ganda Gara, specifically in an area called Laga Hare. It is a historical and religious heritage built by the Italians during their occupation.The purpose of the construction of the mosque was said to be a tactical strategy to win the favour of the Muslim population.

5. Hastorical town’s village and administrative building.

5.1 Harla village

Some 15 km from Dire Dawa on the way to Dengego, Haräla is probably a XIII century town that sized nearly half sq km. Walled; it was the capital of the Haräla1 kingdom located in between the Indian Ocean and the highlands of Ethiopia. It has developed for long time commercial links with Zeila, a sea town and a strategic door to the middle and Far East. Through that, nilotic, high and low lands cultures of Ethiopia were easily intermingled with those from Arabia peninsula, other countries of Middle East, India and far East, as confirmed by chronicles of the time.

Coins written in Arabic and Chinese alphabet, pieces of glasses, ornaments, tools for knitting and pottery fragments have been found in the settlement by peasants together with a stony moon calendar with two geographical coordinates (sinus geometry?)2. The calendar, nearly 10 cm long, 5 large and 1 tick, remains into two pieces, but still readable and in good condition. The tablet is maybe broken, but it would have been designed in two pieces originally, one orthogonal to the other to ease observing the seasonal moon movement in the sky from a given landmark. This latter might have been a ceremonial place with great symbolic worth.

Haräla was probably a well designed terraced town, with a strong economic base, located mainly on the right side of the present road to Dengego, on a hilly landscape between two small wabi. On the left side, grave sites have been identified, but commanding defence buildings were probably overlooking the town.

As remnants do indicate, the main activities were related to handicraft (weaving, knitting, pottery, glass3, wood and iron works), farming and cattle raising, processing of leather and skins, mining (copper) and quarrying (quartz, sand, marble, stone). Probably, the terrace system of the settlement (with related drainage and water supply infrastructures) was including gardens and replicated in the surrounding rural areas to create fields along riff and hilly landscape for cultivation. The gentle land morphology allowed such engineering.

Being an administrative and religious place, it was probably hosting a mint that was benefiting from a local supply of copper. The town was linked through a path network to neighbouring settlements and the highlands of Chercer Mountains. A proof of that might be found near Hulul Mojo at a place called Abi Yasid on the way to Kersa.

Beside the remains of wall, other sites are still visible like a partial wall of a fortress at a cross road, a small mosque shadowed by a holy tree, water wells still fed, a black stony ground mill and a stony water reservoir. Many graves4 have been so far identified inside the old perimeter of the town and most on the top of the hills with rests of human bonds. The grave contours can be

1

2

3

4

easily traced as the stones come some 10 to 20 cm out of the ground. A round stone tablet written in Arabic language has been found on the site, unfortunately broken. What’s drawn seems to be similar to that represented in some of the copper coin.

In the centre of the settlement a big rock was probably used for ceremonies. The inhabitants call it ‘chair’. Factors leading to the decline of the town are still uncertain: the defeat of Gragn mid of 17th century might be a likely one, but also internal social uprising or a wide earthquake that devastated the Rift

Valley with epicentre in the volcanoes area of the present Awash Park (Fentale is the major one). Yet, climatic and political reasons might have affected the historical course of the town. In XVI century Haräla was already overcome by Harar as political, religious and economical centre.

Stones and other building materials have been recycled by the Italian in 30s during the construction of the new road5 and bridges to Harar as well from the inhabitants for housing and terracing. The ancient road is still visible while crossing the new one with an inclination of nearly 30°.

5.2 Qal’ad (jeldasa)

Is a town on the caravan road between Harar and the gulf of Tajurah. After the armies of Menelik II were victories over sultan of Harar on Jan 7/1987,Ato Mersha went to pitch the Ethiopian flag in the dawale and he became the governor of the region.1887 was a turning point for the region of Dire Dawa as the region was incorporated in to the trading complex of Shoa.

This old small village (now found in jeldessa village) use to serve as a custom collection place. The landscape is similar with that of diredawa.This village was planned to be the region’s export and import controlling area. But after the establishment of dire dawa, its functions shifted and its importance as a strategic trade place vanished.

Now, the village is left with only its remaining of houses, mosques and other buildings with more than 150 years of age are still standing. The old house which was used by the then chief of the village ,Mersha Nahusenay, lies on the top of the hill besides the village, but, still, only the remaining to be seen. The village is located 28km far from dire dawa.

5.3 Dire Dawa palaceAs soon has Dire Dawa was founded ,Ato Mersha, the governer of Gildessa came Dire Dawa to establish his center where the palace is situated today, In 1928 at two story palace with a style of Arabic influence was built on this historic place.. Around 1955 it was redecorated, a floor was added the surrounding gardens were improved

Market area

5

6.1 Kefira Market 1942The open market found in dire dawa is a place to evidence the diverse cultures of the town.Said to be founded around 1942 it has some architectural similarity with the walled city of Harar (UNESCO)world Heritage) and Arabic style of building 7. Historical industries and service area7.1Cement factor (shementara) The1st cement factory in Ethiopia established in 1938 during the Italian occupation located in depo and it played a significant role in building the good image of the town.The availability of Butiji river &li me stone accounts for its location7.2 Cotton factory It was the first Cotton, factory in Ethiopia founded in 1938 during Italian occupation. It was located in Laga,Harre availability of Laga,Harre river accounts for its establishment and location 7.3ST, Lazare printingpress it was transferred from Harar to dire dawa in 1908. It has a greatest Historical values since the first news paper of Ethiopia entitled ,”Aimero” ,the first African novel “etiopia” and first French-Amharic dictionary were prepared (printed there). More over printing material was also prepared here distributed to other parts of countries and Djibouti,

7.5 Greek School: The Greek School. Located in the Court Yard of the Greek Church was founded in 1926. It is still used as school.

7.6 Alliance Ethio-Franchise

In 1908 the institution was founded as school. Nowadays the school itself is closed, but the place is still used for different meetings, language lessons and a very good library. 7.7 Indian community schoolThis is the school where the children of the large Indian community in the Megala section of the town. Were provided their education. It was established in 1935.7.8 Luel Mekonen school The first government school which is located in Kazira was established in1942 (Mesrake jegnoch). Dire Dawa public Library is the part of the school

7.9 Hotel Continental

This was the first hotel build in Dire Dawa in 1906 by a Greek, named Mr. Bololakos. Belonging to the owner, Mr. Bololakos the historical name of the Hotel was “Bololakos Hotel”. The profit of the hotel business was used to support the Greek Community in Dire Dawa.

Later the name was changed to Continental Hotel and the Greek Community doesn’t profit any more.

7.9.1 Makonen Bar & Hotel

Founded in 1906

The old name of the Hotel was “Prince Makonen Hotel”, which later was changed to simply “Makonen Hotel”. The first owner was an Italian named Mr. Davino, who from profession was engine driver of the Ethio- French railways.

7.9 .2 Railway HospitalFounded in 1908 and recently rehabilitated by the French Red Cross. Unfortunately there is only one doctor in this hospitalII. NATURAL ATTRACTION

8 StaleThe stale at Hulul-Mojo Kebele Peasants Association is also another remain of human activity in the area. However, whether it is related to the Mosque or not remains for further studies.

9. Chirimiti hot spring water

This hot spring water is found 85 km far from dire dawa on the road to Djibouti.

The hot spring is not properly used, and yet not well preserved. The community living beside the hot spring does not know the value of this resource so they are using it for cleaning purpose only.

The spring, found in the middle of a small river called ‘Artu’, unlike other hot springs, does not have a boiling feature but rather calm. But if touched, it has the power to peel away a skin.

The site, if well kept and well protected, can be a best place to spend some quality time. Even with the absence the protection and the investment works, the place is worth visiting.

WATER FALL

The impressive all season water fall is found in Hulul mojo rural kebeles around 25 km from Dire Dawa city . it is easily accessible and worth a visit.

The main objective of this study will be to identify how the community can be benefited from the community based tourism and to determine whether this community could be empowered to benefit financially from the visitor on top of the dire dawa tourist attraction place; and if so, how. The visitor itself belongs to the community and if it is properly managed, it can provide income in an area where job prospects are virtually a few -existent. At the end of the project

What seams the community’s attitude towards tourism in general and the people’s

expectations with regard to the project in particular?

Marketing dire dawa As attractive and exiting destination

Safety

Quality of

Service

Range of on-site

attractions

Procedures for handling complaints

Ancillary services such as catering

and retailing

Services for visitors with special needs

The weather

AugmentedProduct

TangibleProduct

CoreProduct

Equity

Dire Dawa Administration Regional Tourist Destinations Religious place and festivity Natural place Art and paintings Architectural design etc...

Public Participations Local and International Partners for Sustainable Tourism Development

Tourism Industry

Sustainable development

Ecological sustainability Economic

sustainability

ETHIOPIA – TOURISM FACTS AND DRAWBACKS

For many years, Ethiopia has attracted the discerning traveler. Thousands of years before the

appearance of the Lonely Planet Guides, visitors extolled its attractions and wonders. The first

illustrated travel guides to Ethiopia can be found in the friezes in the pyramids and ancient sites

of Egypt. These depicted trips to the land of Punt, which the Egyptians knew was the source of

the Nile, and where they traded for gold, incense, ivory and slaves.

The fourth century Persian historian Mani described the Ethiopian Kingdom of Axum as being of

the four great empires of the world, ranking it alongside China, Persia and Rome. Axumite coins

have been found in India and China, and the obelisks of Axum (like the one looted by Mussolini

and recently returned by the Italians) are the biggest single pieces of stone erected anywhere in

the world.

Nowadays, Ethiopia faces an image problem for tourists – the image of famine, hunger, war

and drought. This was not always the case. Ethiopia was one of the first African countries to set

up a tourist industry and, in the 1960s, tourist arrivals grew at the rate of 12 per cent a year. By

1974, when the Emperor Haile Selassie was toppled and replaced by a military regime,

Ethiopia’s tourist sector was on a par with Kenya’s. Ethiopia then had actually more to offer than

Kenya: both had coastlines, spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife, but only Ethiopia also

had historic sites and an identity defined by its own history, culture and peoples, rather than by

colonialism.

The coming of the Derg, as the military dictatorship came to be known, ushered in a period of

civil wars and state sponsored famines. Tourist traffic took a dive. Recovery came with the

ousting of the Derg in 1991. Since then, almost year on year, tourist arrivals have shown a steady

increase and last year Ethiopia attracted 200,000 visitors – more than double what they were in

1991. We shouldn’t be surprised; after all, Ethiopia is home to no less than seven UNESCO

World Heritage Sites.

The Ethiopian tourism sector now constitutes about 2 per cent of GDP, and accounts for 15 per

cent of foreign currency earnings, which in 2003 amounted to $77 million. The Ethiopian

Tourism Commissioner, Yusuf Abdullahi Sukkar, has predicted that earnings from tourism will

outstrip coffee (the country’s current main export earner) within five years.

Despite the upward trend, the sector is still seen as under-performing. The main reason is seen as

the lack of attention from Ethiopia’s federal government. On one level the government’s

commitment to improving infrastructure, building roads and constructing new regional airports,

has facilitated the movement of visitors. However, the absence of a well-defined tourism

development strategy has created a vacuum at the heart of Ethiopia’s tourism sector. Alone

among neighboring and competitor countries, Ethiopia does not have a Minister of Tourism.

In recent years the government has made a number of strategic interventions to solve the

problems facing developers and investors in sectors such as coffee, leather, textiles and

horticulture, with meetings chaired by the Prime Minister himself. There have been no such

developments with the tourism sector. In Ethiopia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper prepared

in 2003, the role of tourism was summed up in a few generalities and one paragraph.

However, there are now, signs of change. In August last year, seven tourism related associations

presented a paper to the government calling for a public private forum in which the problems

facing the sector could be addressed. It stressed the opportunities tourism presented for economic

development, job creation and poverty reduction throughout the country.

Although the initial impetus for reform has come from within the country, support, and the

crucial promise of funds, is now coming from two sources, the International Think Tank of

“Friends of Ethiopia” and the World Bank.

With the prospect of their help, there is a new feeling of confidence among stake holders in the

sector, and a belief that Ethiopia’s huge tourist potential is finally about to be realised. Most of

the sector, from Ethiopian Airlines, to tour companies and hotels, remains within Ethiopian

hands so the massive expatriation of profits that characterise tourism in much of Africa will not

be the case here. And the creation of direct and indirect employment throughout the economy

that a tourist boom will bring will reduce poverty. Hopefully, the Live Aid image of Ethiopia’s

poverty could soon be history.

SOURCE – www.developments.org.uk

Tourism Attractions in Dire Dawa

Dire Dawa has a rich wealth of pre-historic cave paintings some of which have achieved international

recognition through the efforts of the French and American Geologists that have studied them several

times in the last 75 years, while there are still other caves that have never been studied so far.

The remains of the British airmen and African soldiers who, during the Second World War, fought

besides the Ethiopian forces to liberate Ethiopia from Italian occupation.

The railway line that reached Dire Dawa in 1902 is believed to have been the reason the city came

into being in the first place. That is why the railway station is one of the destinations of tourists and

other visitors coming to the city. industrialized city, the place is teeming with manufacturers of

processed meat, textiles, vegetable oil, and cement. The city was founded in 1902 and quickly ended

up to large trades.

Industrialization has spared Dire Dawa’s rich cultural heritage. It has a wealth of pre-historic cave

paintings that is recognized internationally. The caves are numerous that some have not yet been

studied. It is a constant destination of French and American geologists.

Kefira is the city’s traditional marketplace and houses a regular colourful presentation of all people in

their native dresses. Go back to medieval times with the presence of camels, donkeys, two wheeled

carts drawn a horse, and Gharris that decorates the marketplace.

The largest mosque found in the city is an Italian mosque. The shrines and mosques that is scattered

around Dire Dawa is a testimony to the deep spirituality of its people. Christians have also built St.

Michel’s Catholic Church, which is over 115 years old. The church is a constant gathering place for

thousands of Catholics especially during the October month where they crowd in the church in their

full numbers.

It also houses an international and domestic airport so it is easily reachable. The extensive network of

buses and other public transportation makes Dire Dawa an easy yet adventurous city to explore. Relax

in its rich history coupled with the comfort of an industrialized city. The warm and dry climate of the

city is a perfect getaway venue for those who want to take a break from the hassles of life.

Dire Dawa is a commercial and industrial center in the Harar region, Ethiopia. As an

30 immovable heritages

Ethio-Djibouti Rail Way Hospital

Prince Asfawosen Palace (Wegagn Bank Office)

Greek Orthodox Church

Michael Church

The Palace of Dire Dawa

Jewish Residential Building With the Star of David

The Rail Way Station Terminal

Mekonnen Bar and Hotel

Continental Hotel

Armen Orthodox Church

Alliance Ethio Francaise

Saint Augustine Catholic Church

African Cemetery

Cathoilc Cemetery

Office of the Ogass

Addis Abeba Hotel

The Building of Henri de Monfreid

Indian Mahajan Community School G+Style

Djibouti Chancellery

The Kefira Open Market

The Christ School In Khat Tera

Alazar Printing Press In HCS Compound

D.D Cement Factory

D.D Textile Factory

The Balian Crematorium in Lege Hare

The Italian Muslim Mosque in Lege Hare

The House of Emperor /Lij Iyasu (Hayat Clinic in Kezira)

Mosque Isse Around Taiwan

Chandris Meat Processing Plant

The Cave shelter of porcEpic in Inkuftu

NOTE

1. Visto , ''Djibouti - Addis Ababa'' Courrried Ethiopia 24.9.26, p.1 The author's name is

probably a penname. It is a poem of six stanzas each of which is 4 lines.

2. There are some indications that for those who lived along the trade route on the eastern

shoan escarpment (specifically Ankober, and in Minjar ) Dire Dawa was as much a point

of attraction as Addis Ababa in our period. One of my information's ( Wo. Tirfe

Kabtihyimer, 80, who lived in Minjar in her youth), stated that her burning desire was to

go to Dire Dawa). Pre- 35 Addis Ababans regarded Dire Dawans and folks from Harar

city as ‘‘modern’’ Informant: Ato Bekele Birhane ( age in his 70s). Both informant:s were

interviewed in Addis Ababa.

3. C.F Rey, In the country of the Blue Nile (New York, Negro Universities press, Rep.1969),

P.22.

4. R.P Skinner, Abyssinia of today: An Account of the first Mission sent by the American

Government to the court of the Kings 1903-1904 (New York: Negro Universities press,

Rep. 1969) P.9.

5. L' Africa Orientale: Illustrazione Storico Geografica, Vol.I Sgurdo General- L Ethiopia

( Milano: A Mondadori, 1936) ,P. 103

6. R. Pankhurst, History of Ethiopian Towns from the Mid-Nineteenth century to 1935

(stuttgart: steiner Verlag wiesbaden, 1985) covers the published source only which are

travel literature; Ajakiu . Mikael ''Urban Development in Ethiopia (1889-1925)'' Journal of

Ethiopian Studies XI, 1 (January, 1973). pp.1-13 ; Henri Baldet, '' Urban study of Dire

Dawa ''( B.A thesis submitted to the Geography Department of Addis Ababa

University ,1970) Messeret Shiferaw ''The Municipality of Dire Dawa '' B.A thesis

submitted to the Department of political Science, Addis Ababa University, 1970 ); R.

Pankhurst, Economic History of Ethiopia ( Addis Ababa : A.A.U. press, 1968),;696.

7. Pankhurst, History of Ethiopian Town exhausts the travel literature and yet it offers a

rather thin discussion.

8. There are also precious documents in the manuscript section of the IES. See for details

notes 77 and 114 below.

9. Shiferaw Bekele, '' The Railway, Trade and Politics. A Historical Survey, 1896 -1935 ''

(M.A Thesis submitted to the Department of History, AAU, 1982), p 38.

10. Le Djibouti: Journal Franco Ethiopian (12.07.02), p.4 Le Djibouti was published in

Djibouti from 1899 to 1903. This periodical sheds light on some of the news from Dire

Dawa are printed which is helpful for the reconstruction of the history of this city in its

first year of existence. Most of the issues of this periodical are available in the Ethiopian

studies section of the National Library (Addis Ababa). Some numbers are missing,

however.

11. Ibid, 15 11 02, pp 2-3 called it Dire Dawa. When Jean Duchesne-Fournet took his train

to Djibouti in December, 1902 he said he left from "Dire - Dawa". Baldet, p.17. And even

after the foundation (when it was officially supposed to be called Addis Harar) Le Djibouti

Simply proceeded to call it Dire Dawa. See for example its issues of 7. 02.03 (p.1); 30.

05.03 (p.3); 1. 08.03 (p.3); 29.08.03 (p.3).

12. Baldet, p. 15. Leichenet, the consul of France in Dire Dawa, writing sometime in the

early thirties, gives an entirely different definition which howerver reflects some sort of

oral tradition; ' Dire ' c' est la plaine; 'Daoua'. la construction. Jadis Un roitelet de la tribu

des Madiganas avait ici sa capitale. one inondation la detruisit. Desmimosas envahirent

son emplacement, formerent une foret. " in H. celarie, Ethiopie XX siecle (paris:

Hachette, 1934) , pp. 14-15. E. Ullendorff writing for the Encyclopaedia of Islam II (1965,

p. 317) comes up wtih yet another etymology:

The name (Dire Dawa) is most

Probably derived from the somali

Dire Dawa ' limit of the dire' (the Dir being

The confederation of Somali tribes which

Inhabit the vast arid region betwen Dire Dawa

and Djibouti) , but it is possible that the

Amharicized from is mean to reflect a

popular etymology form the Amharic (sic!)

Dire Dawa "hill of the uncultivated land".

13. Informant: Ato Mardikian interviewed in Dire Dawa. Baldet (p.15) accepts from the "

lingguistic point of view" the definition of " plain of the fight". And another student of the

of the city also defined it as " plain of Battles" on the basis of oral tradition collected in

Dire Dawa. Meseret p. 6. A Gurgura elder, Haji mume Ahmed, (age 80, interviewed in

his house in Dire Dawa on 3. Vii.88) informed me that Dire Dawa meant "plain of the

fight."

14. Baldet, pp.3,5.

15. Ibid., p.5.

16. Ibid.

17. Ibid. p.16.

18. See shiferaw, "the Railway, Trade and politics..." for an extended discussion of the

formation of the new company.

19. Le Djibouti, 31.01.03, p.4

20. Ibid. "The location of the reservoir would have been at the foot of the Grimaldi hill.

21. Ibid. 7.02.03, p.1.

22. Ibid. P.4.

23. Ibid. 30, .05.03, p.3. The engineer who installed "les services de eaux" was called de

salm, Ibid.

24. Ibid. p.3.

25. Ibid., pp. 3-4

26. " Liste Generale des concessions de Dire Dawa" dated: 27.8.28 in file: Pieces Remises

a' la commission (Dire Dawa Railway Archives)

27. For the Amharic copy of the concession see Mahteme selassie W. Meskel, Zikre Neger (

Addis Ababa, 1942 E.C.) pp. 452-455. This article makes it clear that the railway gets

the land with its resources.

Therefore the company was entitled to exploit these resources. it was amended in article

IV of the 30 January 1908 concession to mean that the 1,000 metres are only up to Dire

Dawa from the border. but then it was further amended int he 1924 Amendment to the

concession. see Ibid. pp. 456-463, 470-476 for copies of the documents and see below

for the impact of this amendment on Dire Dawa.

28. Conclusion drawn form the reading of the contracts signed between leaseholders and

the company in a file or from the concession files in the municipality archives.

29. In this paper I exclude Eritrean towns when I refer to Ethiopia on the obvious group that

at the time they were under Italian colonial rule. Morphology. Is one of the distinguishing

characteristics of colonial cities in Africa? In this context, I refer only to aspects of

morphology when I bring in the concept of colonial city.

30. These expressions are commonly used by the clerks and officials of the railway and of

the municipality. In all the files, registers and other documents that I have seen in the

archives of the two organizations these labels are applied as a matter of course. (Note

that the term " village" is quite frequently applied for Magala and " ville" for Gezira). See

for example a letter dated Nehassie 2, 1918 E. C to Dejatch Emiru form the municipal

director in which he refers to Magala as¾Guh¨< S”Å` (and passim) in¾É_Ǫ T²ÒÍ u?

ƒ Åw}` (hearafter ¾É.Ÿ.T.Ê). The Archives of Dire Dawa municipality. The whole

register is full of references of this kind to magale and to Gezira.

31. Le Semeur d' Ethiopie (December, 1908), p. 515.

32. Baldet, p.19 Informat: Avdis Terzian, 82, explains at length the " Frenchness" of Dire

Dawa. Interviewed at his house in Addis Ababa, on 10.11.86.

33. For the documentation, see shiferaw Bekele, "The people of Dire Dawa: Towards a

social History", a paper read at the Xth international conference of Ethiopian studies held

in Paris, August, 1988.

34. Le Semeur (December; 1908), p. 515. This issue was printed in Dire Dawa, hence the

first to be published in this city.

35. Ernest Vincent, Les Interets Francais en Ethiopie (paris: publications du comite de 1'

Afrique Francaise, 1905), pp.17-18.

36. Pankhurst, Economic History, p. 206.

37. Vincent, pp.17-8

38. Bekure W. Semait, "industrial Development in Addis Ababa Area ( A miniature capitalist

penetration)" Journal of Ethiopian Studies XVII ( november, 1984), p.41. Both Minassian

and kevordoff were some of the richest merchants in Ethiopia. The headquarters of

Minassian was located in Dire Dawa. Informant: Ato Mardkian; and A. Zervos, L Empire

d' Ethiopia: Le Mir ori de l' Ethiopia Moderne 1906 -1935 (Alexandrie, 1936), pp. 212-3

39. Informants: Avedis Terzian and Mardikian.

40. Baldet, p. 46.

41. Rey, 181.

42. Le Djibouti 1.08.03, p.3. for the land see " Listes Generals des Concessions De Dire

Daoua" in File: pieces Remises a' la commission in Dossier: 61- Dire Daoua Concession

(Dire Dawa Railway Archives).

43. Ibid. And also informant: Ato Mardikian.

44. Le Semeur (Janvier, 1907), p. 216.

45. The part that deals with the ox-cart business is wholly bases on information obtained

form avedis Terzian, son of serkis Teraian. Bekure W/Semait laconically refers to this

undertaking thus: " Irregular chariot (Sic) transport was attempted between Dire Dawa

and Addis Ababa form 1903 onwards." see his "Industrial Development in Addis Ababa

area", p.40.

According to Brice, the French minister at the time in Addis Ababa, Serkis Terzian

claimed that he was a "concessionaire des transports publics' par voiture specification

des transports publics par voiture specification de genre entre Dire -Daouaet Addis -

Ababa....' Brice goes on: "il a soi-disant ebauchee en certains endroits. " Brice further

writes that S. Terzian gave "permission" to the German Ababa road in order to forestall

the German form complaining to the Ghibbi against him. Holtz agreed to give 40% of his

profits form the use of this road to Terzian, so writes Brice in his report. Brice seems to

have doubts bout the authenticity of Terzian's claims. See Brice a MAE, dated 3. vi.08.

The history of ox-cart transport in Ethiopia goes back at least to the early 1880s

when a few ox-carts were used to freight lumber for the construction of the palace and

churches at Entoto. See R. pankhurst, "Menelik and the foundation of Addis Ababa",

Journal of African History II 1 (1961), pp. 105-6. It is also reported that horse and ox

carts were extensively used on the Ababa -Addis Alam road since the rurn of the

century. See mahteme Selassie, zikre Neger, p. 445.

47. Avedis Terzian Claims that one cart could carry up to 1 ton.

48. Compagnie du Chemin de Fer Franco- Ethiopien de Djibouti a' Addis Ababa,

rapport presente a' l' Assemblee Generale Ordinaire en 1910, Resolutions,

Exercise (paris, 1910), p.6 Copies of these reports from 1909 to the present

are available in the Institute of Ethiopian studies.

49. Le Semeur d Ethiopie (Janvier, 1911) , pp. 15.16.

50. Computed form " Listes Generales......" See below, P.

51. My oral informant , Ato Markikian, Confirms this ,

52. " Listes Generales ......" . See also below, p.

53. See below, p. 93

54. Le Semeur (Janvier, 1911), p. 15.

55. "Journal du pere pascal de Lunchon" This dirary contains entries form 1908 to 1914. I

consulted it in the archives of the capuchin Missionaries in Harar. I would like to take

this opportunity to express my gratitude to pere Emily who is in charge of these

archives for letting me work there and for his kind help in the study of the documents.

The diary is not without value for the reconstruction some aspects of the history of

Harar of that period.

56. F. Braudel, Capitalism and Material Life: 1400-1800 trans.by Miriam Kocham (n.p.: G.

Weidenfeld and Nicolson let.' 1973), p.373.

57. G. Motandon, Au Pays Gimirra: a' Travers le massif Ethiopian (1909- 1911)

(Neuchattel: Attinger Freres, 1913), p. 386.

58. See Matheme Selassie , pp. 477-82 for the Amharic text of this treaty. I saw the French

copy in the Dire Dawa railway archives. The quotations are forming this French version.

59. Copy of this document is available in a file: Dire - Daoua Documents, capuchin

Archives, Harar.

60. The Representative of the company (Addis Ababa) to the Director d Exploitation,

Djibouti, dated 6 Decembers 1915, No. 129c, in file: emprises Art.4 contract 30.1.1908

(Dire Dawa Railway Archives).

61. Ibid.

62. See Mahteme selassie, pp. 470-477 for the Amharic version of this treaty.

63. Ibid.

64. The Accord has seven articles. Article 1 is on the land to be given to the company for

the Addis Ababa station. Article 2 is about preferential tariff for Ethiopian government

officials, employees and the makuanint. In article 4 they agreed about delimitation of the

railway terrain. And article 6 is about the representative of the company in Addis Ababa.

See Zikire Neger, pp. 477 - 482.

65. The list shows that there are over 350 plots of land shared out by the railway engineers

but the rest of the plots are either for the company or the date is not specified or not yet

leased out up to 1924.

66. See p.6 above.

67. In order to demonstrate this point, I present the following rate of exchange for the years

1921 to 1926 which does not necessarily tally with the official exchange rate as

published in the newspapers in Addis Ababa.

“The problems we have today cannot be solved by thinking the way we did

when we mcreated them.”

—Albert Einstein

Tourism: Definitions and historical context

Tourism is a vast, complex field laden with indeterminate terminology.

Answers to simple questions, such as “what is tourism?” or “who is a

tourist?” may vary widely.

Researchers, such as Mathieson and Wall, point out the difficulty of

differentiating between tourism and recreation activities, for example (9).

Specifically, Burkart and

Medlik point out that:

Tourism represents a particular use of leisure time and a particular from of

recreation but does not include all uses of leisure time nor all forms of

recreation. It includes much travel but not all travel. Conceptually tourism is,

therefore, distinguished in particular from related concepts of leisure and

recreation on the one hand, and from travel and migration on the other (4).

Does that mean that a person conducting tourism research in another

country is not a tourist? Is she/he a traveler? If so, are travelers’

expenditures on a global market economy differentiated from that of

tourists? A tourism research activity abroad is not leisure or tourism in itself,

nor recreation, yet the individual may be classified as a tourist according to

other definitions. For instance, Mathieson and Wall broadly define tourism as

“a multifaceted phenomenon, which involves movement to and stay in

destinations outside the normal place of residence” (14). The World Tourism

Organization defines tourism as “the activities of persons traveling to and

staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one

consecutive year for leisure, business, and other purposes” (qtd. in Mak 3).

From a geographic consumer perspective “tourism is consuming an

experience that is an extension of who the tourist is” (Jackiewicz, “Tourism”).

This is a mere example of the complexity surrounding tourism research and

a point to keep in mind when examining or utilizing statistics.

First and foremost, tourism is a human activity of economic, social, political,

cultural and educational significance (Burkart and Medlik v). Also, as stated

by Metelka “tourism draws from many established disciplines, but

transcends any one of them” (iii).

Additionally, Mathieson and Wall define tourism as “the temporary

movement of people to destinations outside their normal places or work and

residence, the activities undertaken during their stay in those destinations,

and the facilities created to cater to their needs” (1). Finally, tourism is

recognized as having three elements: dynamic (travel to a destination),

static (stay at a destination), and consequential (direct and indirect

economic, physical, and social effects) (Mathieson and Wall 14). However,

Hudman states that tourism “includes three common elements: movement

of people between two or more places, length of time of movement and

purpose” (29). Chances are that further study would reveal other authors

describing various elements of tourism, yet such is the nature of research in

this field.

From the beginning of civilization, human beings have inquired about

location, direction, distance and place. Curiosity about other places and

societies led to exploration of distant places. Historically, tourism can be

traced to Roman times with the development of holiday villas in the Bay of

Naples. The expansion of seaside resorts was influenced by a doctor’s

recommendation of the therapeutic effects of seawater (Wong

x). According to the Tourism Geography web site, modern tourism started in

1841 in

England when Thomas Cook organized an excursion for factory workers

believing that travel would help people with alcoholism as they broaden their

minds. Nevertheless, it was not until the early 1930s that the term tourism

was incorporated in social science research. Mathieson and Wall write that in

1933 Ogilvie defined a tourist as:

Any person whose movements fulfill two conditions:

1. That the person’s absence from home was for a relatively short period.

2. That money spent during absence is money derived from home and not

earned income in the destination visited (10).

For the purpose of this study, a tourist will broadly refer to one who travels

for various reasons and does not earn income from the host community. In

the 21st century, tourism is the world’s leading legitimate industry with the

most employees (Honey, “Ecotourism and Sustainable Development” 9),

even though some scholars refer to it as the travel and tourism industry, as

reported by Mak. In his book, Tourism and the Economy: Understanding the

Economics of Tourism, he cites the travel and tourism industry as the largest

in the world (ix), while large transnational corporations (TNC), such as the

airlines, hotels, resorts, outbound operators, and the travel industry press,

control this industry (Honey, “Ecotourism and Sustainable

Development” 34-47). Moreover, tourism is an intricate component of

globalization.

McLaren quotes Martin Khor in her book, Rethinking Tourism & Ecotravel,

“Globalization is a leading threat to local communities, particularly in the

global South”

(8). Globalization is a bi-product of colonialism with all its inherent socio-

economic stratification. However, the increasing gap between rich and poor

across the global is creating opportunities for new models, as well as for the

populations to demand new national leadership (e.g. Venezuela, Bolivia,

Chile, Brazil, Spain). Latin America, in particular, is stirring new alternatives

of development such as human scale development (Max-Neef) and

community-centered globalization (Jackiewicz “Community” 3). While

TNCs and governments clamor for more so-called free trade to increase their

profits, local communities around the world are making strides towards

meeting their basic needs through their participation in community-based

tourism development with the assistance of various organizations. One such

example is the Toledo Ecotourism Association

Village Program in Belize, started in 1991, by local Mayan families with the

help of local organizations (Timothy and White 233-6).

In contrast, DeKadt argues that there is no such thing as the ‘tourism

industry’ per se, as in the steel, construction, agriculture industry. Instead,

“tourists purchase goods and services from a variety of industries … [with

some] of their expenditures being in hotels and restaurants normally

identified with the tourism sector” (ix). In addition, the intricacy of tourism

economics includes topics such as price elasticity, foreign exchange, gross

national product, employment, multiplier effect, balance of economic

payments, economic impact, opportunity costs and inflation as studied by

Australian John Lea. In his book, Tourism and Development in the Third

World, Lea examines how international tourism flourishes in a world

economic system characterized by severe distortions and imbalances,

controlled by the imperial domination of the Third World.

Regardless of terminology differentiation, the World Tourism Organization

(WTO), a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), reports on its

website the historical perspective of world tourism as “one of the most

remarkable economic and social phenomena of the past century” due to the

industry’s growth. In addition, it claims that international tourist arrivals have

grown from 25 million in 1950 to approximately 763 million in 2004 (Table

1).