ABSTRACT Ethiopia is rich with varied types of tourist attractions, which gives the country a great potential for cultural and educational tourism. This study has attempted to examine the ecotourism potentials and development in Kaffa Biosphere Reserve in Gimbo Woreda in Southern Nations Nationality and Peoples of Ethiopia. In this study three Kebeles Ufa, Shetta and Wushwush were selected as a principal locations for this study. The three Kebeles were selected purposefully, and the reason for selection was associated with availability of ecotourism potentials in relative distances, accessibility, and limitations of research cost. In line with this 218 sample respondents were selected for inquirers from three kebeles by using simple random sampling method. Qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques were employed to collect the required information on ecotourism potentials and development. Weighted Sum Method (WSM) tool was used among various tools of Multi-Criteria Decision Methods (MCDM) for assessing the tourism potential of the study sites. In addition questionnaire and key informant methods were used to assess the attitudes and perceptions of local community towards ecotourism potentials in the area. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and responses compared using the Chi - square test to understand the attitude of the respondents towards ecotourism resources and products Data collected were analyzed by using chi-square test to determine variation of awareness among the respondents. In addition, intra attribute scaling was used to know the level of potential ecotourism in the study area. Having these, nearly, 88% of respondents confirmed that there are high ecotourism potentials in the study area. Apart from this, the study site, Wushush has high attribute scaling on socio-cultural potential than others, while Shetta and Uffa have high attribute scaling on a forest and transport potentials, respectively. The existence of different wildlife in the study area, the presence of historical and cultural resources, the provision of different social service, and the suitability of the nature of environment is the best opportunity for ecotourism development. Finally, promoting and making further study is very important for digging out available ecotourism potentials for sustainable ecotourism development. Keywords/Phrase: Biosphere reserve, ecotourism, ecotourism potential, ecotourism development, Multi-Criteria Decision Methods.