1. Service Description: - Physical fitness centers and gymnasiums are places where people take various types of physical exercises and gymnastics. These exercises are good for the body and the mind. It is medically proved that some of the exercises keep people physically fit and healthy. It is also proved that some specific forms of exercises control the level of blood pressure and diabetic conditions. In physical fitness centers, there can be also steam and sauna baths, table tennis and ground tennis games. Other additional services can also be given to customers.
2. Rationale: - Physical fitness centers and gymnasiums do not require large investment, but their benefits are next to services rendered by health care facilities. In fact in many countries, physical fitness centers and gymnasiums are built and provided by the state. In other countries these centers are provided both by the state and the private sector. At any rate, physical fitness centers and gymnasiums are available in large numbers in developed countries. In fact many residential houses in developed countries have their own physical fitness facilities. This is in addition to the many gymnasiums and physical fitness centers scattered throughout residential neighborhoods. However, in developing countries physical fitness centers are very rare and they are used by a small number of people. For example, Addis Ababa, the capital of the third populous country in Africa and which has more than 3 million inhabitants has only four or five gymnasiums and physical fitness centers. Building and equipping a physical fitness center does not cost more than the price of a 4-wheel Drive vehicle. But this very useful facility is not available even in the major urban centers of the country. The Amhara Region, like all other regions of the country, does not have any physical fitness centers. To promote the physical well- being of the people at least of those who live in urban urban areas, there is a need to establish physical fitness centers in all major towns of the Region.
3. Market Potential: - About 2.3 million people live in urban areas in the Amhara Region. If we assume that at least 20 percent of the urban population will use the services of physical fitness centers and gymnasiums, total number of users will be 460,000. This number of potential users will be spread across the different urban centers of the Region. Intuitively, one can say with some degree of certainty that there is enough market for physical fitness services in the zonal capitals of the Region.
4. “Source of Raw material”:- There is no as such a “raw material” needed for the operation of the physical fitness center or gymnasium. It will only need utilities such as water and electricity for its operations.
5. “Process and Technology”:- A physical fitness center or a gymnasium is a facility that provides services. People come to the center and undertake different physical exercises depending on their need or interest. Thus, there is no as such a process as there is in a manufacturing facility. However, there are various machines, equipment, tools and instruments used in a physical fitness centers. The list of such items varies depending on the range of services to be provided by the center.
6. Estimated Investment: - For a medium size physical fitness center or gymnasium that could accommodate about 300 people at a time in its various services, total estimated investment will be as follows.
· Buildings 300m2 at Birr 2500/m2 = Birr 750,000
· Equipment, machines, tools etc = Birr 500,000
· Working capital …………………= Birr 100,000
Total ……. = Birr 1,350,000
7. Benefits: - improves the physical well-being of people in the Region, controls the negative impact of some type of diseases such diabetes and high blood pressure, creates recreational facilities which improves quality of life.
8. Location:- Bahir Dar and Zonal capitals of the Region