Community Based Tourism
Finding the Euilibrium in the COMCEC Context
14
 CBT is part of a broader/wider community development strategy,
 Linked to visitor education on the value of culture and resources present,
 Clear zoning of visitor and non-visitor areas,
 There is good existing infrastructure to access the product (P.4)
Zapata et al
(2011)
 Located within a community (i.e. on communal land or with community benefits such as
lease fees),
 Owned by one or more community members (i.e. for the benefit of one or more
community members),
 Managed by community members (i.e. community members could influence the decision
making process of the enterprise) (p.727).
Salazar
(2011)
 Economically viable: the revenue should exceed the costs,
 Ecologically sustainable: the environment should not decrease in value,
 An equitable distribution of costs and benefits among all participants in the activity,
 Institutional consolidation ensured: a transparent organisation, recognized by all
stakeholders, should be established to represent the interests of all community members
and to reflect true ownership (p.11).
Thailand CBT
Institute
(2013)
 Developing based around special elements of local lifestyle, culture, people and nature
that community members feel proud of and choose to share with guests,
 Training locals to prepare and strengthen the community to manage tourism.
Kyrgyz CBT
Association
(2013)
 Relies on participation of local stakeholders,
 Has to contribute to the local economic development through increasing tourism
revenues,
 Certainly “for-profit,” but its essence is promoting local products and local ownership,
 Has to develop socially and economically sustainable tourism.
Silva and
Wimalaratan
a (2013)
 Undeniable role for the community on cost-benefits sharing principle,
 Community consultation in tourism related legislations and planning,
 Projects implemented with the consent and active participation of the community,
 Community initiated, owned, and managed projects,
 Community and private/public partnerships,
 Economically viable and ecologically sound projects,
 Fair distribution of costs and benefits among involved parties,
 Institutional consolidation and well-developed institutional environment,,
 Accountability and transparency of all activities (p.8).
World Bank
(2013)
 Ensuring participation at all levels of the community and avoiding the exclusion of
marginal groups,
 Remaining responsive to the priorities of the communities,
 Establishing a dialogue between the communities and the local government,
 Ensuring that intermediaries are held accountable to community groups,
 Be demand oriented,
 Support policy reforms necessary for the success of a given project undertaken with a
community driven approach.
Community participation is imperative for tourism development where tourist attractions
are within the living environment of the community and sometimes community (culture) is
the part of the attraction for tourists. In such cases, the community may suffer from the