Community Based Tourism
Finding the Euilibrium in the COMCEC Context
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were doing their jobs - an impression, which somehow collides with the expectation of
finding “the authentic.” Tourists noted that parts of their experience seemed to be planned
and part of an overall schedule. Still, the fact that tourists were part of the locals’ everyday
life to a certain extent made it hard to decide whether their experiences were part of staged
activities or if they actually gained access to the back (i.e. the ‘real’ culture).
The case study demonstrates that tourists’ motivation to participate in CBT stems from the
desire to have unique and authentic experiences, which is supposed to be found in the
everyday activities of locals that took place behind the scenes of tourism.
Source: (Dolezal, 2011)
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust in the Central District of Botswana implemented a
unique Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) program that involved
the conservation of natural resources (e.g. rhinos) and the improvement of local
community livelihoods. CBNRM programs were initiated in order to assist in the
sustainable development of rural areas. The efforts of the CBNRM programs involve
addressing some important developmental concerns in local communities where the
conservation of natural resources is critical because most rural dwellers depend upon them
to exist. The purpose of the Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust program is to remain a
community based organization that aims to protect and save rhinos and to bring about
economic benefits for locals, through tourism and sustainable use of the available natural
resources. CBNRM programs have evolved to be the focus of many developing countries in
recent years (Sebelle, 2010).
In the case of Botswana, the CBNRM program of the Khama
Rhino Sanctuary Trust has several main goals: 1) to protect the environment within the
sanctuary and to protect and nurture endangered rhinoceros; 2) to establish, maintain and
preserve the biodiversity within the sanctuary; 3) to generate revenue for the local
community from tourism and other uses of the sanctuary’s renewable resources; and, 4) to
provide environmental education to Botswana and to the general public. The program
functions from 10 basic principles to ensure that the goals are achieved and that the
benefits derived from the use of local natural resources are both conserved and benefit the
local community.
CASE 3 – Botswana: Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust