Addis Ababa, March 26, 2010 (Addis Ababa) - A market research and community business Plan project that aims at benefiting the community living in the Middle and South Eastern Rift Valley from the tourist attractions launched here Friday.

The study for the project was conducted by Ethiopian Sustainable Tourism Alliance (ESTA) in collaboration with Hawassa University, the George Washington University and USAID.

The study focuses on areas including the localities called Lepisi , Ziway Lake and Ziway Island in the Middle Rift Valley and the Eastern Langano Lake area.

ESTA Chief of Party Bedilu Shengen on the occasion said the objective of the project is to promote tourist attractions, organize discussion forums among all stakeholders and the local community and generate income for the local community.

The project also aims to enable the local community to preserve and protect the tourist attractions from any damage.

The tourist attractions are not situated far from Addis Ababa so that tourists, who stay for short period of time, can visit, he said.

He said close five million USD is need for the implementation of the pilot project.

Source: ENA