RIJSS Volume 4, Issue 12 (December, 2015) ISSN: 2250 – 3994 Journal of Radix International Educational and Research Consortium 1 | Page www.rierc.org DOMESTIC TOURISM AS A VEHICLE FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE: LESSONS FROM WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN THE AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA SANJAY JOSHI Asst. Professor Yechale Mehiret Geremew Leul Yohannes Hailemeriam Department of Tourism Management University of Gondar Gondar, Ethiopia ABSTRACT The major purpose of this study was to examine whether and under what conditions that domestic tourism can help for democratic governance at Amhara world heritage Sites, Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, quantitative and qualitative case study method, and purposive and stratified sampling techniques were employed for questionnaire, focus group discussion and interview data gathering instruments. Quantitative data was hand-coded into SPSS (version 19) and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Therefore, tourism experts and domestic tourists were participated and the collected data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one way ANOVA and post hoc. The quality of quantitative data from questionnaiƌe suƌǀeLJ ǁas ĐheĐked ďLJ usiŶg ƌeliaďilitLJ ;CƌoŶďaĐh’s alphaͿ aŶd ǀaliditLJ ;faĐtoƌ aŶalLJsisͿ test. The qualitative data was collected from experts and domestic tourists and analyzed through interpretative and descriptive account of the data. To assure the reliability of qualitative data all interviews and group discussions were recorded and registered word for word throughout the courses of interviews and focus group discussions. The interpretation of qualitative data was a thematic descriptive approach that utilizes a theŵe suŵŵaƌLJ data aŶd uŶattƌiďuted Ƌuotes to illustƌate doŵiŶaŶt issues iŶ ƌespoŶdeŶts’ own words. The major findings of the study indicate that an increment of academic qualification and experience of travelling to different parts of the country can help to understand the role of domestic tourism for democratic governance. However, the Amhara regional state government should not viewed domestic tourism as some form of vector of economic domination, but is very much seen to be an instrument of democratic governance; a sustainable economic, environmental and social tool for development were some of the recommendations given. A Journal of Radix International Educational and Research Consortium RIJSS RADIX INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SOCIAL SCIENCE