Mapping Tourism Stakeholders and Governance Networks to Advance Sustainable Tourism Development: A Case Study in the Lake Tana Region, Northwest Ethiopia

Tourism, being an inherently fragmented and multisectoral phenomenon, requires the involvement of a diverse range of stakeholders. The main aim of the present study is to map local tourism stakeholders and analyze governance networks. The researchers recruited research participants from key tourism stakeholders through purposive sampling techniques. Closed-ended questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions were used for collecting data. This study applied the power-interest grid for mapping local tourism stakeholders. In addition, by applying the concept of resource dependency theory, the Social Network Analysis technique was employed for mapping the local tourism governance networks. The findings disclosed that the local tourism stakeholder map primarily comprises government institutions, tourism businesses, local communities, and civil society organizations. Even though tourism government institutions and large tourism businesses established strong linkages, the network density was found to be moderate. Implementing effective stakeholder mapping techniques and strengthening local tourism governance networks is crucial to augment sustainable tourism. This study makes a substantive contribution to academia by providing insights into the methods and techniques essential for mapping tourism stakeholders and governance networks. Moreover, the study has practical implications for destination management organizations, policymakers, and destination administrators.