Community Based Tourism
Finding the Euilibrium in the COMCEC Context
63
CBT Failure Factors: Several factors were mentioned by the locals as reasons of failure
including lack of local community support due to lack of sensitization during the initial
stages, lack of local empowerment and involvement, locals’ lack of basic skills and
knowledge, poor management, unfavorable partnerships, poor leadership, lack of
reinvestment and maintenance, leakage of revenue, locals’ lack of ownership of tourism
resources lack of access to tourists, petty politics, elitism, lack of exit strategies of external
intervention, lack of transparency and lack of appropriate policy framework to support the
development of CBT
Locals’ Economic Development: Some indicators particularly important in rural and
marginal areas with few alternatives were mentioned including, enhanced linkages, the
generation of employment, increased income and diversified livelihoods. Also,
improvement was observed in social development within the community and improved
lifestyles-improved educational and health services, access to clean water, development of
transport, communication infrastructure. However, no significant impact was noted on
reducing poverty.
Enhancement of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction: Locals suggested
critical success factors including, awareness and sensitization, community empowerment,
effective leadership and community capacity building, emphasizing independence,
addressing local community priorities, enhancing community empowerment and
transparency, discouraging elitism, promoting effective community leadership and
developing community capacity to operate their own enterprises efficiently.
Factors that would make local communities welcome or not welcome CBT:
 Community sensitization at the inception for locals’ awareness,
 A sense of ownership for locals to be empowered and involved,
 CBT adding value to existing livelihoods,
 Issues of elitism and poor leadership to be addressed,
 Good real life examples of neighboring communities,
 Community relations with local agencies (potential racial tensions),
 The locals’ cultural orientation influencing local community attitudes towards CBT
especially in conservative Muslim communities,
 Other livelihood alternatives for locals,
 The issue of land ownership,
 Appropriate policy framework to inform and guide the development.
Source: (Manyara and Jones, 2007)