Community Based Tourism
Finding the Euilibrium in the COMCEC Context
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1.5.3.3. Environmental Benefits of CBT
 Sustainable use and development of sensitive natural capital environments;
 Conservation of local natural resources;
 Use of a wide range of resources rather than depending on one intensively;
 Encouraging non-consumptive uses of natural resources;
 Increased environmental awareness at the national and local levels;
 Improved understanding of the relationship between the environment and
sustainable economic development.
Besides the benefits mentioned above, the most important benefit of CBT is the change in
locals’ outlook on life and themselves. CBT may open up the horizons of the future for the
community, giving hope and therefore a willingness for locals to get involved, produce and
take control of their lives. CBT may encourage the local population to seek change of an
otherwise undesirable life condition. It may provide and sustain the motivation to
overcome potential obstacles to productivity such as laziness and learned helplessness,
eventually resulting in belief in themselves, improved self-confidence, and self-respect
among locals. Most CBT projects are subsidized by local or international donors. Whether
the subsidy continues, locals should stay active in production at least until it becomes a
second nature for the new generations. The resultant change in locals’ outlook on life may
prove to be a gift that keeps giving, as it might impact both their current economic efforts
and future as well. This may result in, by way of demonstration of production focus, a
change in the horizons. This potential benefit, in essence, may urge supporting CBT
projects at all costs - for the greater good of the society, particularly for equity, and toward
cohesion and peace.
The benefit of CBT regarding the change in locals' outlook on life in less developed places
may actually be a critical factor in achieving UN’s Millennium Development Goals, namely
combating poverty and hunger, illiteracy, gender discrimination, HIV/AIDS, and achieving
health for children and mothers, environmental sustainability and global partnership. It is
clear that the target groups of these objectives are also the most likely target groups of
locals in CBT development.
1.5.4. Costs of Community-Based Tourism
When CBT principles are overlooked, the results may be more dramatic than the typical
costs of tourism since the groups involved in CBT projects are usually marginalized, poor,
and disadvantaged groups. Disappointed expectations and disillusioned communities from
the collapsed, failed, struggling or poor performance of a CBT project can endanger the
well-being of the locals, which may already be under the threat of disappearing due to
unfavorable socioeconomic conditions. Therefore, before jumping on the bandwagon of
CBT, authorities need to ensure the critical requirements for successful CBT applications.
Despite its holistic goals of community well-being, empowerment and development, CBT,
as other tourism development models, has its weaknesses steering away from the