Journal of Tourism & Hospitality
Open Access

Abstract

Recreational Parks: Practices and Challenges in Hawassa City

Yeshewazerf Gebrewold Hailegiorgis

Recreational parks have great values like being an attraction for leisure and recreation contribute for tourism and contribute positively for the economy. In addition to this urban recreational parks have social, environmental, educational and health benefits. However urban recreational parks are underutilized due to poor services and facilities they have. Measures taken to solve the problem were limited due to lack of attention and research. This study is conducted on two recreational parks found in Hawassa city. The objectives of the study are assessing current government authority practices for planning, providing, managing and maintaining urban parks, identifying factors affecting recreational parks service provision and perception of visitors on the service and facilities provided. The study was conducted by collecting data from park visitors and park administration workers (in the city municipality), and by conducting observation on the parks. In analyzing the data descriptive statistic for the questionnaire filled by park visitors and simple qualitative analysis is used for information from key informant interview and observation made on parks. Results indicated that services and facilities at the parks are poor and poorly maintained. Lack of finance, professional human resource and absence of policies and guidelines for service provision are the main problems resulted in poor service and facility. Therefore, to improve service and facilities and achieve intended objective government/the city’s municipality and specific work unit working on city recreational parks should review its policies on park management to enable allocation of more resources and the system of management and financial sourcing and involve all stakeholders in the system are recommended.