Introduction to Community Tourism Development
Community Tourism Development is an approach to tourism that aims to involve local communities in the planning, development and management of tourism in their areas. This approach puts local people at the heart of decision-making and ensures they benefit directly from tourism activities.
Key Definitions:
- Community Tourism: Tourism activities that are planned, developed, owned and managed by the community for the community.
- Community-Based Tourism (CBT): A form of tourism where local residents invite tourists to visit their communities and provide them with overnight accommodation.
- Sustainable Tourism: Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.
♥ Principles of Community Tourism
Community tourism is built on several core principles:
- Local ownership and management
- Fair distribution of benefits
- Conservation of natural and cultural resources
- Respect for local traditions and values
- Meaningful community participation
☆ The Community Tourism Model
This model emphasises that tourism should:
- Be developed with community consent
- Provide direct financial benefits to locals
- Contribute to conservation efforts
- Respect local culture and traditions
- Support local livelihoods and wellbeing
Benefits of Community Tourism Development
When properly implemented, community tourism can deliver significant benefits to local communities, tourists and the environment.
£ Economic Benefits
- Direct income for local people
- Job creation and skills development
- Reduced economic leakage
- Diversification of local economy
- Support for local businesses
♥ Social Benefits
- Preservation of cultural heritage
- Empowerment of local communities
- Improved infrastructure
- Enhanced community pride
- Cross-cultural understanding
⊕ Environmental Benefits
- Increased conservation awareness
- Protection of natural resources
- Funding for conservation projects
- Promotion of sustainable practices
- Reduced environmental impact
Challenges in Community Tourism Development
Despite its potential benefits, community tourism faces several challenges that need to be addressed for successful implementation:
- Limited capacity: Communities may lack the skills, knowledge and resources to develop and manage tourism effectively.
- Unequal power relations: Powerful stakeholders might dominate decision-making processes, marginalising community voices.
- Market access: Communities often struggle to connect with tourism markets and attract visitors.
- Cultural commodification: Risk of turning cultural practices into commodities for tourist consumption.
- Environmental pressures: Increased visitor numbers can strain local ecosystems and resources.
- Benefit distribution: Ensuring fair distribution of benefits within communities can be challenging.
Case Study Focus: Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED), Uganda
KAFRED is a community-based organisation that manages the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary in Uganda. The project began in 1992 when local residents decided to protect the wetland and develop it as a tourist attraction.
Key achievements:
- Built a secondary school, health clinic and community library with tourism revenue
- Protected the wetland habitat and its 200+ bird species
- Created jobs for over 50 local people as guides, craft makers and staff
- Won the UN Equator Prize for sustainable development
- Established a community-managed revolving fund for local entrepreneurs
KAFRED demonstrates how community tourism can successfully balance conservation, economic development and social benefits when local people have ownership and decision-making power.
Implementing Sustainable Community Tourism
Successful community tourism development requires careful planning and implementation. Here are key strategies for developing sustainable community tourism:
✓ Planning and Development
- Community assessment: Evaluate community assets, resources and capacity
- Participatory planning: Involve all community members in decision-making
- Capacity building: Provide training in tourism skills and management
- Infrastructure development: Develop appropriate facilities and services
- Product development: Create authentic experiences based on local strengths
✓ Management and Monitoring
- Governance structures: Establish transparent management systems
- Benefit-sharing mechanisms: Create fair systems for distributing income
- Marketing strategies: Develop effective promotion and partnerships
- Visitor management: Control visitor numbers and behaviour
- Impact monitoring: Regularly assess economic, social and environmental impacts
Evaluating Community Tourism Sustainability
To determine whether community tourism initiatives are truly sustainable, they should be evaluated against specific criteria:
- Community control: Do local people have meaningful ownership and decision-making power?
- Economic benefits: Is tourism generating significant income that stays in the community?
- Social equity: Are benefits distributed fairly among community members?
- Cultural integrity: Are local traditions respected and authentically represented?
- Environmental conservation: Is tourism contributing to environmental protection?
- Long-term viability: Can the initiative continue without external support?
Case Study Focus: Belize Toledo Ecotourism Association (BTEA)
The BTEA is a network of Maya villages in southern Belize that offer homestays, guided tours and cultural experiences to visitors. The association was formed in 1990 to help local communities benefit from tourism while preserving their culture and environment.
Key features:
- Village-based tourism committees make local decisions
- Rotating homestay system ensures fair distribution of guests
- Cultural activities showcase authentic Maya traditions
- Environmental education is integrated into tours
- Income supports community projects and conservation
The BTEA demonstrates how a network approach can help small communities overcome marketing challenges while maintaining local control over tourism development.
Future Trends in Community Tourism
Community tourism continues to evolve in response to changing traveller preferences and global challenges:
- Digital connectivity: Online platforms are helping communities market directly to tourists
- Experiential travel: Growing demand for authentic, immersive experiences benefits community tourism
- Climate adaptation: Communities are developing tourism that addresses climate change challenges
- Indigenous tourism: Increasing recognition of indigenous rights in tourism development
- Collaborative models: Partnerships between communities, NGOs and businesses are creating new opportunities
Summary: Key Principles for Sustainable Community Tourism
To successfully manage destinations through community tourism development:
- Ensure genuine community participation and control
- Build on existing community assets and strengths
- Develop appropriate scale tourism that matches community capacity
- Create fair and transparent benefit-sharing mechanisms
- Balance economic, social and environmental objectives
- Invest in ongoing capacity building and skills development
- Establish partnerships that respect community autonomy
- Monitor impacts and adapt management strategies accordingly
When these principles are followed, community tourism can be a powerful tool for sustainable destination management, contributing to both conservation goals and community wellbeing.
