Category: FORM FIVE GEOGRAPHY NOTES

HERE YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ALL NOTES RELATED TO FORM FIVE OR GRADE 11 GEOGRAPHY. OTHER RESOURCES YOU CAN OBTAIN INCLUDE QUIZ, BOOKS AND PAST PAPERS

9 PROBLEMS FACING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN ETHIOPIA

The tourism industry in Ethiopia is growing rapidly. In 2019, the country received over 1.7 million tourists, generating around $3.5 billion in revenue. This represents a growth of 25% from the previous year. The majority of tourists to Ethiopia come from Europe, followed by Africa and Asia.

Ethiopia has a lot to offer tourists, including a rich history and culture, stunning natural beauty, and diverse wildlife.

The tourism industry in Ethiopia faces several challenges that hinder its growth and development. Here are nine key problems:




  • Infrastructure Limitations: Inadequate transportation infrastructure, including road networks, airports, and tourist facilities, can limit access to tourist destinations and hinder the overall travel experience for visitors.
  • Limited Air Connectivity: Ethiopia’s air connectivity to international destinations is limited compared to other countries in the region. This can discourage potential tourists who may prefer more direct and convenient flight options.
  • Seasonality and Weather Dependence: Ethiopia’s tourism industry is highly influenced by seasonal factors and weather conditions. Certain attractions, such as the Simien Mountains and the Danakil Depression, may be inaccessible or less appealing during certain periods, affecting tourist arrivals.




  • Security Concerns: Although Ethiopia has generally been considered safe for tourists, occasional security concerns, particularly in certain border regions or areas with political tensions, can affect the perception of safety and discourage potential visitors.
  • Limited Tourism Promotion and Marketing: Ethiopia faces challenges in effectively promoting its tourism potential and destinations to a wider international audience. More targeted marketing campaigns and increased promotion efforts are needed to enhance the visibility and awareness of Ethiopia as a tourist destination.
  • Limited Product Development and Diversification: The tourism offerings in Ethiopia are primarily centered around historical and cultural attractions, such as ancient sites and churches. The industry can benefit from diversifying its tourism products to include adventure tourism, ecotourism, and other niche segments to cater to different traveler preferences.
  • Service Quality and Standards: Maintaining consistent service quality and standards across the tourism sector can be a challenge in Ethiopia. Ensuring high-quality accommodation, dining, transportation, and tour services is essential to provide a positive experience for visitors.




  • Skill Development and Training: The availability of trained and skilled professionals in the tourism sector is crucial for delivering quality services. Enhancing training programs and capacity building for tourism professionals, guides, and service providers can contribute to improving the overall tourism experience.
  • Limited Infrastructure and Services in Remote Areas: Some of Ethiopia’s remote and less-developed regions with tourism potential lack necessary infrastructure and services. Investing in infrastructure development in these areas, such as accommodation facilities and tourist amenities, can help unlock their tourism potential.

Addressing these challenges requires a collaborative effort from the government, private sector, and other stakeholders. This includes investing in infrastructure development, improving air connectivity, enhancing tourism promotion and marketing strategies, diversifying tourism products, ensuring security, enhancing service quality and standards, providing training and capacity building, and extending infrastructure and services to remote areas. By addressing these issues, Ethiopia can enhance its competitiveness as a tourism destination and attract more visitors, leading to economic growth and development in the sector.

Despite these challenges, the tourism industry in Ethiopia has the potential to be a major driver of economic growth. The country has a lot to offer tourists, and with investment in infrastructure, improved security, and a more effective marketing and promotion campaign, Ethiopia could become a popular tourist destination.




The Ethiopian government is working to address the challenges facing the tourism industry and to make Ethiopia a more attractive destination for tourists. The government is investing in infrastructure, improving security, and promoting Ethiopia as a tourist destination. The government is also working to train the tourism workforce and to improve the quality of tourist services.

The tourism industry in Ethiopia has the potential to create jobs and boost the economy. The government of Ethiopia is committed to developing the tourism industry and making Ethiopia a popular tourist destination

RELATED POSTS

7 POSITIVE AND 9 NEGATIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF KARST SCENERY

Positive

  • Features in karst scenery are tourist attractions e.g. caves, gorges, stalactites, stalagmites, etc.
  • Limestone rock is used in the manufacture of cement e.g. cement factory at Bamburi in Mombasa and Athi River.
  • Limestone blocks are also used for building.
  • Limestone regions are very good for grazing particularly sheep because the surface is dry.
  • Large villages called spring line settlements form at the line of vauclusian springs due to the availability of water.




Negative

Limestone landscape discourages settlement because the surface is rocky, soils are thin and unsuitable for agriculture, the surface is rugged with features like grikes and Clints and the water supply is inadequate due to rivers disappearing into swallow holes.

RELATED POSTS

IMPORTANCE OF VOLCANIC MOUNTAINS

mountain refers to a cone-shaped landform that is many meters above the sea level formed by faulting, folding and vulcanicity giving rise to block mountains, Fold Mountains and volcanic mountains.

A volcanic mountain is a mountain that is formed by the eruption of lava, ash, and gases from a volcano. Volcanic mountains can be found all over the world, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The formation of a volcanic mountain begins with the movement of tectonic plates. When two tectonic plates move apart, a gap is created between them. This gap is called a rift. Magma, which is molten rock, rises from the Earth’s mantle and fills the rift.

As the magma rises, it cools and hardens. This process forms a layer of rock called the crust. Over time, the crust builds up and forms a mountain.

When the pressure in the magma chamber becomes too great, an eruption occurs. During an eruption, lava, ash, and gases are released from the volcano. The lava flows down the sides of the volcano, forming a new layer of rock.

Volcanic mountains can be active or inactive. An active volcano is one that has erupted in the past 10,000 years. An inactive volcano is one that has not erupted in the past 10,000 years, but it is still considered to be a potential threa




Volcanic mountains- these are formed when molten
magma from the earth’s interior is exposed to the
the surface of the earth through a vent exploding into the
air thus cooling to form a cone shape. E.g. Ethiopian
highlands, Cameroon highlands, Futa Djalon mountains, mount Giluwe, etc

Importance of volcanic mountains

Mineral mining e.g. iron ore, cobalt, copper, etc.

Volcanic mountains are often rich in minerals, such as iron ore, cobalt, copper, and gold. This is because the heat and pressure of the volcano can cause the minerals to be concentrated in the rocks. Mineral mining is an important industry in many volcanic regions.

Tourism attraction due to fauna and flora

Volcanic mountains are often home to a diverse range of plants and animals. This is because the mountains provide a variety of habitats, from the cool, moist slopes to the hot, dry summits. The unique plants and animals of volcanic mountains can attract tourists from all over the world.

Source of rivers

Volcanic mountains are often the source of rivers. This is because the rain and snow that falls on the mountains melts and flows down the slopes, creating rivers. The rivers provide water for drinking, irrigation, and hydroelectric power.

Human settlement on the gentle fertile slopes.

Volcanic mountains can be home to human settlements. This is because the gentle slopes of the mountains are often fertile and can be used for agriculture. Volcanic mountains can also provide a source of water and minerals, which are essential for human survival.

Agriculture is possible due to the presence of fertile soils.

The soils on volcanic mountains are often very fertile. This is because the volcanic ash and rocks that make up the mountains are rich in nutrients. The fertile soils can support a variety of crops, making agriculture possible in volcanic regions.

Forestry and flora conservation

Volcanic mountains can be home to forests and other plant life. These forests can provide a habitat for a variety of animals and plants. They can also help to prevent soil erosion and flooding. The conservation of forests and flora in volcanic mountains is important for the environment.

Lumbering

The forests on volcanic mountains can be a source of lumber. Lumber is used to make a variety of products, such as furniture, houses, and paper. The lumber industry can be an important source of income for people living in volcanic regions.

Recreation and research, education

Volcanic mountains can be a popular destination for recreation. People enjoy hiking, camping, and skiing in volcanic mountains. Volcanic mountains can also be a popular destination for research and education. Scientists study volcanic mountains to learn more about how they form and how they erupt. Students also learn about volcanic mountains in school.

Stone quarrying

The rocks on volcanic mountains can be a source of stone. Stone is used to make a variety of products, such as building materials, sculptures, and jewelry. The stone quarrying industry can be an important source of income for people living in volcanic regions.

Wildlife conservation

Volcanic mountains can be home to a variety of animals, including birds, mammals, and reptiles. These animals can be threatened by habitat loss and climate change. The conservation of wildlife in volcanic mountains is important for the environment.




Volcanic mountains are a valuable resource for humans and the environment. They provide us with minerals, water, food, and recreation. It is important to manage volcanic mountains responsibly to ensure that they continue to benefit us for generations to come.

RELATED POSTS

10 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE HUMIDITY OF THE PLACE

humidity It is the amount of water vapour held in a given volume of air at a given time.




Atmospheric water vapour is as a result of evaporation and transpiration.

Humidity varies from place to place usually ranging between 48% to 80%.

Water vapour is significant in the atmosphere because:

  • It influences the formation of rainfall through condensation
  • It regulates the temperature of the atmosphere through absorbing radiation i.e solar and terrestrial radiation
  • It stores energy in the atmosphere

Factors which influence the Humidity of a place:




Temperature

Temperature controls or determines the rate of evaporation and transpiration.

Hot temperatures lead to high rates of evaporation hence increasing the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere while cool temperatures reduce evaporation rates resulting into minimum condensation hence lowering the humidity of a place

Altitude




Since temperatures decrease with increase in altitude, high altitude areas like mountain tops experience low humidity as water vapour condenses while areas of low altitude like the coastal areas of E.Africa and the rift valley region experience hot temperatures which encourage high evaporation rates leading to
high humidity

Water bodies such as lakes and oceans act as sources of water vapour through evaporation.

Areas near water bodies therefore experience high amounts
of water vapour and hence high humidity e.g around the lake Victoria basin and the coastal areas compared to areas far away from water bodies e.g North eastern Uganda (Karamoja region) and North western Kenya (Turkana land)




Vegetation cover

Areas with thick vegetation cover such as forests experience high rates of evapotranspiration leading to high humidity than areas with scattered vegetation

such as scrub, thickets and steppe savannah which experience minimum evapotranspiration and therefore low humidity

Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (I.T.C.Z)

The apparent movement of the sun leads to variations in humidity between the northern and southern hemispheres.




When the sun is overhead in the north, hot temperatures are experienced leading to high humidity in the north and low
humidity over the south while the south experiences high humidity than the north when the sun is overhead in the south.

The equatorial region however experiences uniformly hot temperatures throughout the year thereby leading to
high humidity




Continentality or Distance from the sea

Areas near the coast experience high humidity because of the effect of the land and sea breezes while the areas far away from the coast experience low humidity due to the absence of land and sea breezes.

Coastal areas also experience low humidity due to the effect of warm ocean currents which transfer warm temperatures towards the land masses leading to high evaporation

Influence of ocean currents




Warm ocean currents raise the temperature of the winds blowing over them hence resulting into high humidity while cold ocean currents have a cooling effect on the winds blowing over them leading to low humidity.

The high humidity experienced along the E.African coast is therefore as a result of the influence of the warm Mozambique currents

Prevailing winds

Moist winds such as the South east trade winds cause high humidity in the areas over which they blow e.g the E.African coastal areas and the Lake Victoria basin.




However, dry winds with less moisture cause low humidity in the areas over which they blow e.g the North east trade winds are responsible for the low humidity in Karamoja in North eastern Uganda and in the Turkana land in Northwestern Kenya

Relief

Highland areas tend to have high humidity on the wind ward side because of the ascending moist winds e.g on the wind ward side of Mt Rwenzori, there’s high humidity than on the lee ward side

Human activities such afforestation, re-afforestation and agroforestry




human activities encourage high rates of evapotranspiration resulting into high amounts of water vapour in the atmosphere hence high humidity while activities like bush burning, overgrazing, deforestation and swamp reclamation lead to reduced evapotranspiration and hence low humidity

Factors Influencing Wind Transportation and Deposition




The following are Factors Influencing Wind Transportation and Deposition:

  • Wind velocity: when speed decreases strength also decreases and its ability to transport so wind starts to deposit materials.
  • Wind direction- Winds blowing from different directions converge and cause the load to collide causing some of it to be deposited.
  • Nature of desert surface:
The following are Factors Influencing Wind Transportation and Deposition: Wind velocity: when speed decreases strength also decreases and its ability to transport so wind starts to deposit materials. Wind direction- Winds blowing from different directions converge and cause the load to collide causing some of it to be deposited. Nature of desert surface:
  1. Wind transportation is more efficient on bare surfaces and hence less deposition there.




  1. Water surfaces such as oases and moist surfaces impede transportation through friction causing the wind to deposit materials.
  2. Less transportation on surfaces with vegetation it reduces wind speed and also binds sand particles together.
  3. Obstacles-Objects such as rock masses, landforms, and vegetation block and reduce wind speed causing deposition.
Changes in weather conditions such as sudden showers halt transportation and cause deposition by washing down suspended materials. Load- Heavy load is deposited before light load when wind energy decreases. When many materials are transported by the wind they collide causing each other to be deposited.




  1. Changes in weather conditions such as sudden showers halt transportation and cause deposition by washing down suspended materials.
  2. Load- Heavy load is deposited before light load when wind energy decreases. When many materials are transported by the wind they collide causing each other to be deposited.

9 CAUSES OF LOW POPULATION DENSITY




POPULATION DENSITY refers to the number of people living in an area per square km.

In East Africa, some placeslike Nairobi, Kilimanjaro region and around lake Victoria have got high population density while other places like dodoma and rukwa regions in Tanzania and northern part of Kenya have got low population density

Causes of low population density (why some areas have low population e.g. Karamoja, Ankole-Masaka corridor, Masai land and Turkana land)




  • Low and unreliable rainfall that cannot favour agriculture e.g. the desert region of Chalbi in northern Kenya. Rainfall influence agriculture by providing water for crops therefore area that have low and unreliable rainfall have few people per square kilometre as compared to areas with heavy and reliable rainfall
  • Hot temperatures of 300C and above that make it impossible for many people to live in such areas e.g. in Karamoja. Areas with high temperature does not attract people to live there while the areas with moderate temperature attract settlement. Therefore areas with high temperature such as karamoja and northern part of Kenya have low population density as compared to areas with moderate temperature such as areas around mount Kenya.
  • Absence of surface water that is essential for human life e.g. in Masai land.




  • Poor quality soils that can’t support agriculture tend to scare away settlements e.g. Miombo woodlands.
  • Pests and diseases such as tsetse flies and mosquitoes in some parts of central Tanzania scare away man due to fear of losing his life.
  • The remoteness of the area hinders accessibility due to poor transport and communication lines.
  • Limited economic activities mean that jobs are not existent.
  • Limited social services scare away people.




READ MORE

9 EFFECTS OF OCEAN CURRENTS ON HUMAN ACTIVITIES




An ocean current can be defined as a horizontal movement of seawater in the ocean.

Ocean currents are driven by the circulation of wind above surface waters, interacting with evaporation, sinking of water at high latitudes, and the Coriolis force generated by the earth’s rotation. 

The nature of ocean currents has influenced human activities in the coastal regions.




Effects of warm ocean currents:

  • The resultant high rainfall experienced has encouraged crop cultivation or rain fed-agriculture.This is common along the east African coast and West African coast where a number of crops are grown, e.g. cloves, sisal, and sugarcane along the East African coast. Along the West African coast crops like cocoa are grown in Ghana.
9 EFFECTS OF OCEAN CURRENTS ON HUMAN ACTIVITIES
  • The high rainfall experienced encourages the growth of forests and people may be involved in forestry activities, e.g. in Gabon, forestry activities such as lumbering are practiced. On the east African coast lumbering is also carried out in the mangrove forests.




  • The high temperatures or warm conditions along the East African coast are conducive for the growth of coral polyps and the resultant rocks and landforms like coral reefs. These coral rocks have been the potential for the manufacture of cement from the coral limestone e.g. the Bamburi cement. In addition, the coral reefs have been a tourist attraction and have promoted tourist activities along the coast of east Africa. Furthermore, the fringing reefs have tended to be a hindrance to deep sea fishing along the east African coast.
  • The heavy rainfall that may result may be associated with thunderstorms which tend to be destructive to crops and property and also disrupts economic activities.

Effects of cold ocean currents




  • The arid conditions lead to the growth of pastures of short grass which has encouraged pastoralism. It is important to note that pastoralism is common in semi-arid areas such as the Namib Desert and the Kalahari Desert.
  • The arid or desert conditions have promoted tourism. Such areas have been gazetted as wildlife conservation sites e.g. Namib Desert.
  • The arid or desert conditions have also provided a conducive environment for the film industry. Filmmaking has been carried out in the arid areas such as the Namib Desert.




  • The ocean currents cause upwelling of ocean waters creating conducive conditions for the growth of plankton and this has encouraged fishing in these areas. The upwelling may be rich in phosphates and nitrates that promote plankton growth e.g. fishing has been an important activity in the coastal waters of Morocco, South Africa, Angola and Mauritania.
  • Cold ocean currents lead to the formation of fog which tends to reduce on visibility over water and air thereby hindering navigation and aviation.




READ MORE

%d bloggers like this: