Abstract:
Managing and marketing destinations is challenging because of the variety of stakeholders
involved in the development and production of tourism products. Marketing should ensure
alignment of aims of various stakeholders on tourist destination on its long-term attraction
and competitiveness. The Ethiopian tourist destinations have become less competitive due to
improper marketing strategies. However, understating how different marketing strategies
affect tourist destinations choice is still limited in Ethiopia particularly in Bahir Dar.
Moreover, many researchers argue that management in the tourist industry is not aware of
the various marketing strategies provided by various tourist firms to enable them select their
destinations. The main objective of the study was to assess the effect of marketing strategy on
tourist’s destination choice in Bahir Dar city and investigate how price, promotion, product
and place influence tourist’s destination choice. A quantitative study was employed with
descriptive and explanatory design. A survey method was used to collect the data from
respondents by using convenience sampling techniques. A sample of 385 was taken and
analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Correlation analysis and
multiple regressions were used to examine the relationship and to identify the effect of
explanatory variables on tourist’s destination choice. The regression analysis confirms that
66% of the explored variables explained the dependent variables. The findings revealed that
price, promotion, product and place has a statistically and positive effect on tourists
destination choice. The study recommends that the tourism sector (stakeholders) should
concentrate on those four determinant factors that have greatest influence on tourist
destination choice and more focus on marketing strategy.