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How to develop community-based tourism (7 tips).

• July 14, 2023
• 14 Comments

• What is community-based tourism?

Community-based tourism is a way of sustainable tourism that allows travellers to closely connect to local communities. Tourism where travellers are invited into local homes. Experiencing the actual local culture, the diversity, local rituals and beliefs.

The aim of community-based tourism is directly benefiting local communities financially, while travellers experience local way of life. Communities that participate in community-based tourism are strong, resilient and committed to show travellers their culture.

Be aware that community-based tourism is a very sensitive segment. That’s why, it’s essential that it’s developed and operated correctly to ensure actual benefits for the local communities. It’s a growing niche market , as more and more travellers are looking for authentic experiences that create benefits locally.

“75% seek authentic experiences that are representative of the local culture”. – booking.com (2023)

This article gives you the basic tools to develop community-based tourism experiences yourself and to create win-win-win situations.

In this article

What are the benefits of community-based tourism, community-based tourism examples.

• Community-based tourism in practice
• Negative impacts of community-based tourism

Developing cultural experiences on local terms

7 tips to develop community-based tourism.

The unique feature of community-based tourism is that the tourism experiences are hosted and managed by local communities. It is a promising niche tourism experience with lots of opportunities. More and more travellers are interested in learning about local cultures and ways to genuinely interact with local communities. Among others, the key benefits of community-based tourism are that it:

• Sustains local culture for future generations
• Facilitates local employment
• Directly benefits locals financially
• Is fairly easy to develop with the right network
• Creates and empowers resilient and strong communities
• Adds value to your business with authentic experiences
• Allows travellers to experience the diversity and customs of local cultures
• Encourages travellers to truly connect and interact with local communities
• Stimulates increased awareness and knowledge of other cultures and traditions
• Takes your business and travellers off the beaten track into rural areas
• Supports the movement of good tourism

While every destination and local cultures are different, the key concept of community-based tourism is fairly similar. That’s to say, the activities can also be applied and developed in almost all destinations. Also, it’s important to stay away from staged activities and to include interaction.

“69% want the money they spend when traveling to go back to the local community”. – booking.com (2023)

Examples of community-based tourism experiences

• Cooking and tasting local food
• Visiting a local market
• Walk through the village
• Working on the field
• Experiencing the coffee process
• Fishing or sailing with locals
• Biking tour around the village
• Handcrafting or painting
• Storytelling by elders
• Homestay or farmstay

Community-based tourism examples in practice

Tour operators come in all sizes and all have a different impact on tourism destinations. Among these tour operators, there are some inspiring businesses that solely focus on benefitting local communities. Their aim is to use tourism as a tool to create a better life and future for locals and to protect the environment at the same time.

Be inspired by the following community-based projects that benefit local communities while offering travellers an authentic experience.

• Preserving cultural heritage in the Karamoja region in Uganda
• Nature community experience in Mida Creek in Kenya
• Connecting locals and travellers in food experiences
• Trekking the Calchaquíes valley in Argentina with local families

Potential negative impacts of community-based tourism

As mentioned, community-based tourism is a very sensitive segment. This means that it can have negative impacts and challenges if not organised and managed correctly and with care.

Community-based tourism is becoming more popular among tour operators. They’re looking to both benefit and involve local communities while developing new tourism experiences for their travellers. Therefore, it’s essential to not only explain the benefits and the development steps of community-based tourism, but also the potential negative impacts and challenges.

The main challenge within community-based tourism is community participation. And without community participation, it’s very difficult to create a successful community-based tourism experience. Community participation is influenced by:

1. Elitism and leadership conflict

Communities with a (visible) hierarchy have challenges with elitism and leadership conflict. Elite members of the communities take on leadership as they believe only these members are fit to rule. Often at the expense of the whole community itself resulting in conflict on resource ownership. One where only the few powerful and influential local elite manage and benefit from community-based tourism.

How to avoid

Avoid this by having many conversations with the community members and all stakeholders and to agree on a fair management structure.

2. Greed and corruption

For extremely poor communities, greed and corruption can become a real challenge. Especially when (some) locals feel they don’t benefit enough they’ll try and get money another way. For example, by abusing assigned power for personal gain. Thereby, it creates a begging culture where tourists are seen as walking ATMs. This creates uncomfortable situations for all involved.

Avoid this by making sure all community members are equally benefitted but also based on their role in the community-based tourism experience.

3. Capacity issues within the community

Managing a community-based tourism experience is hard work and time consuming. Not all locals understand the work it requires to welcome travellers into their homes. When there are too many travellers visiting, locals might feel overwhelmed and dissatisfied with the tourism concept. It also raises issues for the quality of the community-based tourism experience for travellers.

Avoid this by agreeing on the carrying capacity beforehand and making sure that the local community understands what it means to work in tourism.

4. Language issues

Many locals from rural communities aren’t able to communicate with visiting travellers in English. When they don’t know how to communicate, they’re unable to participate. And if they can’t participate in tourism, they tend to resent it. It also won’t allow them to connect with travellers in an authentic way, to explain about their daily lives and to exchange experiences.

Avoid this by working with translators and invest in teaching English to the (younger) community members to develop and empower themselves.

5. Lack of funding and skills

Managing a community-based tourism experience is similar to managing a starting business. In the beginning, you’d need starting capital, finances, skills, and knowledge to organise and manage the experience. Without this, it’s difficult to make it a long-term success. Even though there might be funding from stakeholders, they’ll need to be able to support themselves on the long-term.

Avoid this by supporting the local community with funding and support during the start-up phase, but with the aim for them to be self-managing in the future.

When developing new cultural experiences, it is crucial to consider the potential negative impacts of community-based tourism. Without active community participation, it is challenging to offer travellers an authentic and truly local experience.

To ensure community participation and satisfaction, adopting a comprehensive approach is essential: develop cultural experiences on local terms. The key question to ask is: What aspects of their culture do locals want to share?

By allowing locals to determine what they are willing to share and to what extent, you can achieve the following:

1. Gain the support of the local community

Involving locals in decision-making ensures that the cultural experiences have their support. This support is vital for creating a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship between the community and your business.

2. Make a positive impact

Developing cultural experiences based on local terms provides an opportunity to generate tangible benefits for the destination. By respecting the locals’ wishes, you can contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage, promote economic growth, and support community development.

3. Differentiate from competitors

Offering travel experiences that truly reflect the desires and values of the local community sets you apart from the competition. Authenticity is increasingly valued by travelers seeking meaningful and immersive experiences, and aligning with local terms helps fulfill these desires.

It is important to note that, as a tourism business, you can still bring your expertise to the table. With insights into the industry, market trends , and traveler demands, you can collaborate with the local community to transform their ideas into compelling travel experiences.

Case study: Bali in the 1960’s

To give you an idea about a local conflict, let me take you back to the 1960’s when mass tourism reached Bali for the first time. Where immediately, travellers became fascinated with the sacred Balinese dances.

The Balinese welcomed travellers to enter their temples and watch the dancing for a small fee. But as more people visited, it got crowded and chaotic. And because temples are not particularly comfortable and could only host small groups, the Balinese decided to move their dances to the tourist resorts.

All good you’d say. But some of the Western visitors were shocked. These were sacred dances and holy art! They couldn’t understand the Balinese sacrificing their holy dances and rituals. This led to a conflict between the locals and visitors.

But only because the visitors didn’t allow the locals to decide what and how they wanted to share their culture. They should have taken into account the local terms.

When developing community-based tourism according to the above-mentioned steps, there are more key aspects to remember and to pay close attention to. As said before, CBT is a sensitive form of tourism. Above all, it’s important that both the local community as the traveller enjoys the experience.

1. Connect with the local community

The local community is the key element of your experience. Connect with them, build trust, and think about tourism together. What is unique about their culture and what are they willing to share? To what extent do they want to change their lives? Make sure to collaborate and to give them responsibility and a voice in the entire experience.

2. Train locals in tourism

Interacting with travellers from different cultures can be a challenge for local communities. It’s important to teach communities how to communicate with travellers. How and which information to share and to make them feel welcome. Always use guides from the community itself as they know all the ins and outs of the community. This also ensures the profits stay in the community.

3. Create independency

Community-based tourism is not developed for the sake of tour operators. Local communities want to improve their livelihood and build their own future. Construct cooperative ownership. The success rate of the tourism experience depends on the communities’ sense of ownership. Let them take care of their own tourism product and enjoy the benefits.

4. Include interactive elements

In the experience economy , travellers request experiences to be entertaining, educational, imaginative and attractive. They are looking for experiences where they can participate instead of only watching and visiting. Engage them in the local culture, have them do, try and taste things and give them a truly authentic experience.

5. Think about the language

Travellers are looking for experiences with interaction. Therefore, language is an important aspect for community-based tourism. How are your travellers going to communicate with the host? The best solution is to have an English-speaking guide who is able to communicate with both the host as travellers in an enthusiastic manner.

6. Decide on the duration

Most travellers step out of their own comfort zone when doing a community-based tourism experience. Therefore, it’s important that your experiences are not too long and uncomfortable for the traveller. When you start with community-based tourism, focus on (half) day experiences first. This way, travellers can ease into it and they are also easier to develop.

7. Ensure safety

As travellers are entering an unknown area, they trust upon the guide to keep them safe. It’s important that the guide is trained in emergency situations and also knows how to explain safety issues to the travellers. Thereby, hygiene and sanitation of the local community is also very important. Especially for experiences involving food and drinks.

Happy developing!

When done right, community-based tourism is the ultimate way of good tourism. It’s in the perfect position to create better lives for local communities, to share their stories, and to offer travellers authentic experiences. Keep the challenges and development tips in mind when developing community-based experiences to ensure success stories. Never forget the purpose, focus on creating win-win-win situations and commit yourself to good tourism for communities and travellers.

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Hi, I would like to ask some questions:

– When do we know as a tourist if the trip chosen is a real community-based tourism, where locals get the main benefit and tourists experience the culture and the local’s way of living?

Hi Ane, very good question! This is always difficult and there is not a one size fits all approach. However, there are some guidelines that can help you find out if the community-based trip is genuine.

You’ll know if it’s a real community-based tourism program when the company is very transparant about how it’s run and there is plenty information available. Look for information about ownership (ideally by local initiatives and local communities), the type of activities (really daily life and experiencing local culture instead of only visiting) and if they employ local people and use/buy local products.

Also have a look at this article that I’ve written a few years ago: https://fairsayari.com/blog/how-to-select-a-sustainable-tour-operator

Dear Anne. I have passion to develop community tourism in a region underserved by services like roads and electricity. Are there possible funders to service communities of this nature and develop the products and services?

Hi Anna, very good to hear you have a passion to develop community tourism, what region are you working in? Unfortunately, I don’t have experience with improving roads and electricity but I am assuming this is arranged by government authorities. Perhaps teaming up with local tour operators and accommodations will provide opportunities of making changes happen. Good luck!

This is a problem that I am analysing as well.. Beside the problem of blindness of governance to advantage “some not complying agencies”. From outside it looks like a fantastic green and sustainable initiative of the destination.. Anne please feel free to contact me through LinkedIn, I am on the CBT since a while and I gathered a lot of guidelines and documents giving some steps, good examples, funds ideas.. I would be more than happy to exchange. I am actually creating a responsible tourism agency…

Very good to hear you’ve been analysing this as well Deborah. There are so many sides to community-based tourism but it only provides local positive impact if managed well. I’ve reached out on LinkedIn, happy to connect!

Dear Anne. Our local registered association has recently registered a local company license with the government and plan to embark on tourism as our project. We have passion on that, so we’re looking for any interested partner to join with us since we’re legally registered with the government. Can you find any interested partner for us? We’re located in the South Pacific Ocean, in the Solomon Islands.

Hi there, I passed through your wonderful CBT explanation, and I am so excited as you have inspired me to contact my University Research about CBT. Will you please help me of some CBT definitions which will be so suitable in my Research. thank you in advance.

Thank you for your comment and good to hear we’ve inspired you! Actually, there is only one main CBT definition that’s important and covers everything.

“CBT is a way of sustainable tourism that allows travellers to closely connect to local communities. The aim of CBT is directly benefiting local communities financially, while travellers experience local way of life. The tourism experiences are hosted and/or managed by local communities.”

Wow ,this is quite helpful

So good to hear @ojambo – are you also thinking about developing community-based tourism?

Yes Anne, am also thinking and planning to develop community tourism as one of my products. Thank you.

Hi Anne, this very interesting topic. I enjoy read your explanation and i love to colaborate with you if you have any research project in the future. Im from Indonesia. We have been implementing this in our community. Yet, the challange we face so far is our community have problem in using English.This is not easy to solve. Any advice is welcom.thanks

Hi Muhammad, very good to hear! Yes, it’s a very complex type of tourism and many destinations have similar challenges. To overcome the language barrier, you can start working with a local translator. Perhaps the younger generation in the community or a local student is able to translate when travellers visit. Keep in mind that not everyone has to be able to speak English fluently. As long there is someone who can explain and translate, the others are fine with a few words to welcome them.

Anne de Jong

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What Is Community-Based Tourism? Definition and Popular Destinations

CBT provides communities with the opportunity to play a lead role in their own tourism industries.

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Community-based tourism is a type of sustainable tourism where residents invite travelers to visit or stay in their communities with the intent to provide an authentic experience of the local culture and traditions. These communities are often rural, economically struggling, or living below the poverty line, and community-based tourism (CBT) gives them the opportunity to take full ownership of their area’s individualized tourist industry as entrepreneurs, managers, service providers, and employees. Most importantly, it ensures that the economic benefits go directly towards local families and stay within the community.

Community-Based Tourism Definition and Principles

In 2019, travel and tourism accounted for one in four new jobs created worldwide, while international visitor spending amounted to $1.7 trillion, or 6.8% of total imports, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Surveys show that travelers are becoming more interested in sustainable travel trends and supporting small businesses and unique communities. An American Express poll of travelers in Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico, and the U.K. found that 68% plan to be more aware of sustainable travel companies, while 72% want to help boost tourism revenue in the local economies of the destinations they visit.

While CBT is a form of sustainable tourism, it differs slightly from ecotourism and voluntourism . Rather than focusing specifically on nature or charity, CBT is meant to benefit the community and its environments as a whole. From the traveler’s perspective, CBT offers the chance to immerse oneself in local culture and participate in a completely unique tourism experience.

Responsible Travel , a UK-based activism company that has fostered sustainable travel opportunities since 2001, says that CBT can enable tourists to discover cultures and wildlife they might not have experienced in traditional travel situations. “For many, there is nothing like bridging centuries of modern development and making a connection with people whose lives are so very different to our own,” the organization writes. “And those of us privileged enough to have visited, and listened properly, will have discovered that traditional communities often have far more to teach us about our society and our lives than we can teach them about our world.”

CBT is often developed by the destination’s local government but can also get assistance from nonprofits, other community members, private funding, or even partnerships with travel companies. Most of the time, community-based tourism projects are successful due to cooperation between the community and some kind of tourism expert.

For example, in Madi Valley, Nepal, the Shivadwar Village community reached out to the nonprofit World Wildlife Fund ( WWF Nepal ) for help in 2015. The wild animals living in the famous Chitwan National Park were causing issues for the surrounding villages by wandering into their agricultural lands and damaging crops, limiting income and employment opportunities for the residents living in the popular national park’s buffer zone . WWF Nepal was able to apply for funding through their Business Partnership Platform and partnered up with travel company Intrepid to help the village develop a community-based tourism project. Today, 13 out of the 34 homes in Shivadwar Village operate as homestays, with the income going directly to the families.

Pros and Cons

When community members see that tourists are spending money to experience their traditional ways of life, it can empower them to help keep mass exploitative tourism from entering their communities. However, each situation is unique, and there is always room for advantages and disadvantages.

Pro: CBT Stimulates the Economy

A successful CBT program distributes benefits equally to all participants and also diversifies the local job market . Even community members not directly involved with homestays may also act as guides, provide meals, supply goods, or perform other tourism-related jobs. Women in the community are often responsible for the homestay components of a tourism program, so CBT can help create new spaces for women to take on leadership positions and even run their own businesses in underdeveloped communities.

Con: There’s a Potential for Benefit Leaking

Economic leakage happens when money generated by a certain industry, in this case tourism, leaves the host country and ends up elsewhere. According to a study conducted in the Muen Ngoen Kong Community of Chiang Mai, Thailand, some community members felt that “profit from tourism often does not filter down to the local economy and the costs they incurred far outweigh the benefits.” In this case, locally owned small businesses were also operating against stronger international competitors.

Pro: Environmental Conservation

CBT can help create alternative income for communities and less economic dependence on industries that can harm the region’s biodiversity, such as illegal logging or poaching. Members of the Chi Phat Commune in Cambodia, for example, went from relying on logging within Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains to generating income through sustainable family-run ecotourism businesses with help from the Wildlife Alliance .

Con: It’s Not Always Successful

If the CBT project doesn’t have a clear vision or management strategy from the start, it runs the risk of failing, which could be catastrophic for an underdeveloped community that has already invested time, money, or energy into the project. Successful CBT projects bring communities together with tourism experts who know how to operate in these unique situations.

Pro: CBT Can Help Preserve Cultures

Employment opportunities in CBT don't only provide members with valuable social skills and training, but also can prevent younger generations from leaving their own communities in search of work in larger cities. At the same time, the community will recognize the commercial and social values that tourism places on their natural heritage and cultural traditions, helping foster the conservation of these resources even further.

Community-Based Tourism Destinations

Thanks to the increasing popularity of sustainable tourism and greater accessibility to resources like the internet, small communities and travel experts are continuing to come together to create successful CBT programs.

Chalalan Ecolodge, Bolivia

The Chalalan Ecolodge is a joint indigenous community tourism initiative of the rainforest community of San José de Uchupiamonas and Conservation International (CI) in the Bolivian Amazon. Created in 1995 by a group of villagers and supported by CI through training in skills like management, housekeeping, and tour guiding, Chalalan is the oldest community-based enterprise in Bolivia. By February 2001, the indigenous community received full ownership of the property from CI and now directly supports 74 families.

Korzok, India

Known as the highest permanent civilization on Earth, Korzok village in Ladakh, India, rests at an altitude of 15,000 feet. Although the main source of income for most families here comes from pashmina, the village has developed a CBT model based on homestays with younger community members earning jobs as porters, cooks, and tour guides. During the tourist season from June to September, the occupancy rate for homestays is 80%, earning each family an average of $700 to $1,200 during those four months. For comparison, the average yearly income from pashmina ranges between $320 and $480, making CBT much more lucrative.

Tamchy, Kyrgyzstan

The Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan has fully embraced CBT as a tool for growth. The Kyrgyz Community Based Tourism Association has developed 15 different diverse CBT programs around the country, helping to organize and train remote mountain communities in tourism to help improve their economies and living conditions. One of the most successful is the tiny village of Tamchy, found right next to Issyk-Kul, the biggest lake in Kyrgyzstan and one of the largest mountain lakes in the world. The people of Tamchy welcome tourists to stay with them in traditional yurts and homestays while learning about the unique culture there.

Termas de Papallacta, Ecuador

Back in 1994, a group of six Ecuadorians from the small village of Papallacta village in Napo Province purchased a property that included natural thermal pools. The village is on the road to the Amazon from Quito, so it was a popular route but without much draw for tourism outside of that. The property started as a small spa and accommodation space for travelers but has since grown into the country’s most popular thermal wellness resort and one of the largest employers in the area. Termas de Papallacta also runs an independent foundation that helps train the local community in environmental issues and is certified by the Rainforest Alliance.

" Economic Impact Reports ." World Travel and Tourism Council .

Lo, Yu-Chih and Janta, Pidpong. " Resident's Perspective on Developing Community-Based Tourism- a Qualitative Study of Muen Ngoen Kong Community, Chiang Mai, Thailand ." Frontiers in Psychology , vol. 11, 2020, pp. 1493., doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01493

" Chalalan Eco-Lodge, Bolivia: Equator Initiative Case Study Series ." United Nations Development Programme .

Anand, Anupam, et al. " Homestays at Korzok: Supplementing Rural Livelihoods and Support Green Tourism in the Indian Himalayas ." Mountain Research and Development , vol. 32, no. 2, 2012, pp. 126-136., doi:10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-11-00109.1

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Hike, Stay, and Make Cheese With Local Residents on These International Trips

Community-based projects in ecuador, nepal, and beyond help locals achieve economic independence while providing travelers a chance to experience everyday life..

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In Yunguilla, Ecuador, two hours north of the country’s capital, the local community has created ways for travelers to take part in daily life.

Photo by Ecuadorpostales/Shutterstock

In the mountains of Peru, artisans teach visitors the art of weaving. In the highlands of Ecuador, travelers learn to make cheese. And in the green forests of Nepal, families open their homes to travelers. At any of these, there is no snack bar or kitschy souvenir shop in sight.

Community-based tourism is an interactive travel experience that puts the power back in the hands of local communities, rather than large travel corporations. Instead of jetting between cities, visitors are encouraged to slow down and experience everyday life. Residents, who work directly with nonprofits to develop these programs, decide which aspects of their culture and heritage they want to showcase. Plus, most of the money stays right in the community, supporting local development and conservation efforts.

Here are four community-based tourism projects around the world where you can experience life at a more human-scale pace, from the eyes of local residents.

Yunguilla Community, Ecuador

Forty years ago, the families in the Yunguilla Community in Ecuador’s cloud forest chopped down trees for charcoal to make a living. Today, residents can earn money through tourism while also prioritizing conservation. Visitors get a peek into daily life and can stay in rural family homes, share meals, and join in such activities as making cheese or tending to livestock.

In April, I spent a night in Yunguilla as part of a week-long guided trip with Intrepid Travel . Three of us were welcomed into one couple’s home, each of us given a bedroom. We spent the afternoon on a hike through the newly regrown forest, learning about the community’s sustainable practices. That evening, our hosts cooked us a hearty meal and we gathered around the table with the entire extended family, laughing and chatting despite a language barrier.

Meket Community Tourism Walk, Ethiopia

If you’re looking for a dose of adventure, the Meket Community Tourism Walk is a trekking experience through Ethiopia’s subtropical landscape. There are six accommodations along the route on the Meket escarpment, allowing you to spend up to a week exploring the plateau rim. You’ll sleep in traditional thatched huts called tukuls , with access to hot showers, beverages, and home-cooked meals.

Each day of the trek brings something new, including deep gorges, baboon sightings, and a visit to an ancient church carved into the rock. Tesfa Tours , a tour operator in this region, hires local guides who share stories about the history and culture so you can leave with a deeper knowledge of the area. The walking paths are well-maintained and low-key, but you can expect to walk around five hours a day, depending on your trip itinerary.

Madi Valley, Nepal

In the serene Madi Valley in southern Nepal, travelers can enjoy a homestay, which in this case means a private bedroom and bathroom inside a local family’s house.

This area is a haven for nature lovers. The nearby Chitwan National Park is a popular destination for its abundance of rhinos, jungle cats, and elephants. You’ll also have the opportunity to go on a bird-watching tour or bike ride to catch sight of wildlife that made its way out of the park.

During your stay, you can eat local foods and attend a Magar dance performance. A homestay allows travelers to dip into the community, as well as contribute to it. The revenue generated from tourism helps fund local schools and healthcare facilities, improving the quality of life for residents.

Visit this region as part of an Intrepid Nepal tour or book a room independently through one of the numerous homestays, like the Ayodhyapuri Community Homestay run by the Magar community.

Ccaccaccollo Community, Peru

Cuzco, Peru, is one of the world’s top travel destinations, but there is more to the region than Machu Picchu. Just 45 minutes from town, the Ccaccaccollo Community is home to a women’s weaving cooperative, owned by 46 local Quechuan women. Here, you can watch traditional weaving and dyeing demonstrations while learning about ancient techniques and the importance of alpaca textiles to Andean society. You can buy hats, scarves, or blankets directly from the weavers to help preserve a vital aspect of their heritage, as part of the money funds training programs for younger generations.

You can visit this community as a day trip or stay overnight in the community homestay. G Adventures , which originally helped to fund this program, includes visits to this co-op as part of its Peru travel itinerary, but you can also visit independently .

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Community-based tourism: how your trip can make a positive impact on local people

Community-based tourism can reap great rewards. Done well, it enables local organisations to protect precious habitats, preserve unique culture and empower grassroots employees.

In the mid-1990s, the remote community of Klemtu in Canada’s British Columbia had to make a choice. Hit hard by the collapse of the fishing and forestry industries, unemployment was rocketing, and options were running out. But they knew there were two things in the Great Bear Rainforest that you couldn’t get anywhere else: their own Indigenous culture and the rare, ghostly-white Kermode bear, also known as the Spirit Bear. And that’s how Spirit Bear Lodge was born: a showcase of the Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation, and an entry point for exploring the extraordinary wilderness of the largest temperate rainforest on Earth, with the added benefit of spotting those elusive bears, along with wolves, whales and brown bears. Today, the lodge is a blueprint for conservation-based, community-based tourism, with a string of successes under its belt: the surrounding rainforest is now protected from logging, bear hunting has been banned and the community has a steady income. It has also, they say, fuelled a cultural renaissance. “The lodge has created opportunities for young and old to thrive in their homelands, while educating people from around the world with our rich culture,” explains Roxanne Robinson, guest services manager at the lodge. Guests learn about Kitasoo/Xai’xais culture from the lodge staff and their guides on wildlife expeditions, kayaking tours and cultural visits, while younger community members drop by as part of the Súa Educational Foundation programme. “Súa means ‘thunder’ in our language, and they come to share stories, songs and dances with guests in our traditional big house,” says Robinson. Guests not only have an incredible experience, but they can also sleep easy knowing that their tourist dollars are doing good. Doing good, if reports are anything to go by, is something we all want to do more of. According to an American Express poll last year, 72% of travellers want to help boost tourism revenue in local economies. And the latest sustainability report by Booking.com showed that 73% of travellers would like to have authentic experiences that are representative of the local culture; 84% believe that preservation of cultural heritage is crucial; and 76% want to be sure that their economic impact is spread equally throughout society. So, being a responsible traveller is no longer just about protecting the environment or reducing our carbon footprints. It’s about how our tourist dollars can do good in the places we visit. It’s about communities. It’s taking the ‘buy local’ mantra — supporting your neighbourhood bookshop instead of buying on Amazon, say, or eating in a local restaurant instead of McDonald’s — and using it on your travels. When travelling, though, buying locally can be more nuanced. It could mean eating out in a local restaurant — but who owns the restaurant? Are the staff local but the profits going abroad? Does the restaurant support local producers and farmers, or are the ingredients imported? Is the attached gift shop a showcase of Indigenous craftsmanship, or are the souvenirs all made in China?  

It is, in other words, complicated. “Is it tourism that takes place in a community?” asks Dr Albert Kimbu, head of tourism and transport at the University of Surrey. “Or is it tourism that’s actively engaging and benefitting communities?” That’s the key. That’s the question we, as travellers, need to be asking. “My take on community-based tourism, or CBT,” explains Dr Kimbu, “is that it has to be by the community, for the community.” In other words, if a hotel or lodge takes guests to visit a local school, or to see a cultural dance in a local village, which might be taking place in the community — is the community genuinely benefitting? They might be getting paid, but it could also be straight-up cultural exploitation. Jamie Sweeting, CEO of Planeterra, the non-profit partner of G Adventures, which specialises in community tourism, agrees: “It needs to be owned, led and run by the communities themselves.” Why? “Because,” explains Dr Kimbu, “When communities become aware that what they have is a product that can be sold, then they have a stake in protecting it.” Take the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in Rwanda. The saleable product here is the mountain gorilla that inhabits Volcanoes National Park next door. Visitors will pay a high price to see them in the wild. Working with Sacola, a local non-profit, the idea of a lodge that’s 100%-owned and -run by the community was born, with all profits going back into social and economic projects, as well as conservation within the park. It’s worked a treat. Since opening in 2006, US$4m (£3m) has gone into community and conservation projects, while the gorilla population in the park now includes 10 different gorilla groups. So, the community recognised the financial benefits of their neighbouring gorillas and now benefit by protecting their environment. But CBT at its best goes way beyond employing locally. It means the community gets to decide how to protect the culture and environment on which it depends. So, the community benefits, the environment and local culture is safeguarded, and the resulting economic benefits stay within the community. Win-win-win. There are ripple effects, too. Spier, a wine estate in South Africa’s Stellenbosch region, has a Growing for Good programme, which includes mentoring and assisting local entrepreneurs to create businesses that can then be used by Spier. This has worked with a local laundry service, for example, as well as a taxi service used by its guests. And Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland, Canada is all about the ripple effects, having been created entirely for the benefit of the local community. This 29-room luxury inn was built by local philanthropist Zita Cobb through her Shorefast Foundation, and 100% of operating surpluses are reinvested in the community — a community that was in dire straits just a decade ago, thanks to the collapse of the global cod market.  

Power in partnership

Sabyinyo, Spier and Fogo are examples of when it works. When it doesn’t work, community involvement is nothing short of exploitation. As Amanda Ho, the co-founder of Regenerative Travel, puts it: “In many cases, what we’ve seen is communities around the world angry that their health, wellbeing, and priorities are not being recognised or respected by tourism.” Jamie Sweeting tells me about a particular lodge in Botswana — he won’t name names — which was ‘talking the talk’ about working with the Indigenous San. “The website was shouting about empowering the local community,” he says. But when Planeterra did some digging, it found that while the San were used to put on cultural shows at the lodge, they were earning below the living wage and staying in poor accommodation with barely enough food. Planeterra worked with the local San people to promote and upskill the community-owned Dqae Qare San Lodge nearby, helping them gain direct access to the same markets the other lodge was benefitting from.  

“Community-based tourism can be especially beneficial in empowering women, who are often responsible for the homestay or dining components of a trip” Francisca Kellett

That lack of access to market — and the lack of the knowledge, skills and infrastructure needed to run a successful travel business — is key. As Justin Francis of Responsible Travel puts it: “Being able to access the distribution chains of the tourism industry — to get guests through the doors — is difficult without the partnership of an established tour operator.” When CBT first appeared around 20-25 years ago, he says, NGOs and donors would pitch up at communities, build beautiful ecolodges, but allow the communities very little say — and then fail to provide the training, infrastructure and business know-how to lead to any kind of success.  

Having a voice, Francis says, is key where elected community representatives participate in the decision making: “The driving force behind successful CBT projects is local people setting the terms. It’s about them making informed decisions around how tourism develops.” In the case of the Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Cooperative in Peru’s Sacred Valley, it was three women that had that voice. “When they first came to us, only a handful could do traditional Inca weaving,” Sweeting says. Led by those women, Planeterra assisted with training, infrastructure and marketing, and the co-op has boomed, now owned and run by more than 65 individuals, with an attached homestay attracting overnight visitors. CBT can be especially beneficial in empowering women, who are often responsible for the homestay or dining components of a trip. Dreamcatchers, a tour operator in South Africa, recognised this over 30 years ago, and helped launch a range of CBT enterprises including ‘Kammama’, a selection of nationwide, women-run homestays and experiences, from cooking courses in Soweto to an overnight stay with a family in the Cape Winelands. In the case of Ccaccaccollo, the ripple effect has been a huge uptick in education in the community: all the women involved are now fully literate in Spanish, the first generation to achieve this locally, and most have children in tertiary education — another first. “And there has been an uplift in the pride in their culture. They’re embracing it. They can see that people from dozens of countries travel to visit them because they have something special to offer,” says Sweeting. That special offering is what’s in it for us. “For travellers, CBT offers a genuinely authentic experience and insight into local life,” says Zina Bencheikh, at Intrepid Travel. “Travellers are welcomed into a community and have the chance to immerse themselves.” Intrepid now aims to bring a degree of CBT into many of its sustainable, small-group adventure tours. “Our clients often talk about our CBT experiences as one of the unexpected highlights of their trip,” says Bencheikh. So how do we spot the good guys? How do we know whether a lodge or restaurant or experience that claims to benefit a community genuinely is?   “Ask questions,” says Dr Kimbu. “Have a discussion with those organising your trip.” Bencheikh agrees. “Do your research. Before you visit, ask questions about how the project is run and where the money goes from your visit.” Travelling with a trusted tour operator is also sensible, as is looking out for any certification programmes such as B Corp. Covid-19, of course, has had a dreadful impact on CBT. Planeterra recently launched the Global Community Tourism Network, providing online training, promotion and marketing, to help organisations prepare for when tourists come back. “Many communities don’t have internet or phone access,” explains Sweeting. “So, we also have 16 strategic partnerships, mostly local non-profits with their own network. Our reach is now more than 800 community tourism enterprises in 75 countries.” On the flipside, Covid-19 has also changed how we want to travel. “There’s been a definite shift, with more travellers wanting to find purpose in their trips,” says Sweeting. “We need to take advantage of that. When you’re able to experience something owned and run by a community, it’s much more rewarding, and a more equitable experience for the host and the guest.” As Dr Kimbu puts it, “CBT has a sense of fairness and justice.” It’s that sense of fairness and justice that’s been behind the success of Spirit Bear Lodge for more than 20 years and one that the community hopes will last for generations. “I do hope that my children and future children continue with Spirit Bear Lodge,” Robinson tells me. “Seeing the growth in this company has been amazing. It’s a great way to learn and grow and thrive in our homelands.” You can’t say fairer than that.  

Published in the   May 2022   issue of   National Geographic Traveller (UK)

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This is how to leverage community-led sustainable tourism for people and biodiversity

Sustainable tourism projects can bring vital economic resources to create jobs and infrastructure. Image:  Unsplash/Adam Śmigielski

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• Sustainable tourism serves a greater demand for people to do less harm when they travel while providing local communities with economic resources.
• Community development ventures with Indigenous peoples have several promising benefits, including elevating digital inclusion and sustainable energy sources while preserving local culture and art.
• Garrido’s Lodge in the Brazilian Amazon is one case where sustainable tourism has generated 18 local positions and thousands in annual revenue from craft sales.

Environmentally conscious travellers seek unique experiences, hoping to limit their impacts on the ecosystems of local communities and avoid exacerbating existing social inequalities. Some even wish to work side-by-side with local people in development or housing projects or to help restore natural biodiversity by planting or lending technical expertise. All want to minimize their harm.

At the same time, vulnerable youth in destination countries need alternative opportunities for local employment, especially in isolated communities such as the Amazon and other at-risk biomes. Sustainable tourism projects can meet their needs by bringing vital economic resources to create jobs and infrastructure, valuing traditional practices and respecting the local knowledge and traditions that keep communities intact – essential for stewardship of regional biodiversity.

When developed with environmental and socially sensitive goals, tourism brings infrastructure, security, improved local governance and new jobs. Small and medium enterprises in the travel industry draw on locally sourced supply chains and human resources to prevent economic collapse in remote regions. The Goa Roadmap statement on tourism from the Group of 20 (or G20) recognizes the “crucial role of tourism and culture as means of sustainable socio-economic development and economic prosperity.”

In Brazil, Indigenous, quilombo , riverine, family farming and “ extractivist ” peoples can especially benefit from infusions of tourism resources that convey broader solidarity with the cause of maintaining their way of life.

Have you read?

Are we finally turning the tide towards sustainable tourism, the future of tourism is sustainable and regenerative, with community co-design, indigenous communities and women of colour shape local developments, sustainable income generation.

The sustainable tourism industry can be part of a global solution by combatting the devastation of natural resources and further encroachment on Indigenous lands by private interests (e.g. agro-industry, mining, cattle and timber industries), which destroy human habitats and biodiversity in traditional communities. Moreover, sustainable tourism can address the exploitation of local communities already present in much of the commercial tourism industry, including unfair labour conditions, sex trade and dangerously inadequate sanitation and waste disposal.

Many commercial travel ventures have taken up some of these concerns with adventure travel but community development ventures in partnership with people indigenous to the locale are even more promising.

In partnership with leaders and residents, sustainable tourism can invest in much-needed energy and information infrastructure to provide tourists with educational and nature experiences, exposure to traditional art, culture, music and sports, local cuisine and simple locally produced food, lodging and hospitality.

Sustainable tourism projects can create viable income generation opportunities, employment and new economic and cultural vitality. They can connect isolated communities to the larger world through digital inclusion and energy independence. In the end, traditional communities sharing their greatest strengths with the industry will be recognized as the most trustworthy stakeholders to safeguard their ecosystem and its people.

Garrido’s Lodge – Brazil

The Foundation for Amazon Sustainability (FAS) has worked in the Brazilian Amazon region for over 15 years to support environmental and economic sustainability in partnership with local populations. FAS has demonstrated that small businesses and solutions for green energy, led by local people, can be sustainable and inclusive.

For example, Garrido’s Lodge (Pousada do Garrido), a community enterprise located in Tumbira, 60 kilometres from Manaus on the banks of the Rio Negro, provides basic hotel amenities, guided outings on the river and in the rainforest and locally sourced authentic meals to Brazilian and international travellers. The enterprise has generated 18 direct employment positions for local youth and women. And women’s local handicrafts have generated another $11,000 in sales in 2022.

Roberto Mendonça is the manager of the restaurant at Garrido’s Lodge and describes his journey from logger to environmentally sustainable restauranteur:

“I grew up in the rainforest and logging was the only way to feed our large family. The logging business is controlled by outsiders with money who couldn’t care less about the people or our environment. The logging businesses not only destroy the trees and the ecosystem here in our home, Mother Nature, but they destroy the souls of our people...

“With the training I got from FAS, I now understand how to sustainably source the materials we used to build the Lodge and the food and amenities that we provide to travellers who come here to learn about our way of life in the rainforest. And we are helping the whole community to protect our way of life.”

"Amazonian and remote communities around the world hold enormous potential for safeguarding the lives of Indigenous populations..."

Safeguarding communities through sustainable tourism

Leaders of the Tumbira community were among the first graduates of FAS’s business incubator. They have established the Lodge to host eco-tourists and have brought solar energy, satellite internet service, virtual classrooms from kindergarten to high school and a health clinic to the village.

Tumbira’s community council develops leaders who make decisions about the education and health infrastructure, as well as energy and sanitation maintenance challenges; as a result, they have become stronger as a community. The local economy has flourished as well. The Lodge alone generated a profit of over $80,000 in 2022, a significant stimulus to a formerly declining economy.

FAS reports that Amazonian community-based businesses in their network generated over $20 million in gross revenues last year for local populations, with $3 million coming from community-based tourism businesses and $17 million from Amazon bio-economy production and supply chains.

FAS executive director and founder Virgilio Viana observes that “Tumbira and other sustainable tourism projects demonstrate that Amazonian and remote communities around the world hold enormous potential for safeguarding the lives of Indigenous populations, for stewarding humanities’ treasured biodiversity and for creating economic dynamism – especially in regions where exploitation of people and nature was once the only economic alternative.”

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Small solutions, big impacts: 5 community-based projects tackling climate change

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There are thousands of small-scale, community driven initiatives making a huge difference in people’s lives and contributing to efforts to curb global warming.

In early April, 29 countries pledged more than $5 billion to the UN-backed Global Environment Facility ( GEF ). The Fund said this was “record support, providing a major boost to international efforts to protect biodiversity and curb threats to climate change, plastics and toxic chemicals ”.

But why such a major boost? Well, the GEF is a multilateral fund that serves as a financial mechanism for several environmental conventions including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

It has its own Small Grants Program (SGP) which grants of up to $50,000 directly to local communities including indigenous peoples, community-based organizations and other non-governmental groups investing in projects related to healing our planet.

The initiative is implemented in 127 countries by the UN Development Program ( UNDP ) which provides technical support to these selected local projects that conserve and restore the environment while enhancing people’s wellbeing and livelihoods.

Here at UN News, we want to highlight just five of the over 25,000 projects implemented since 1992, the year the GEF started working. Though the Fund’s projects span the globe, this list features a few initiatives currently improving the future of humankind and wildlife in Latin-America and the Caribbean.

 1. Indigenous women solar engineers bringing light to rural Belize

For people living in cities is sometimes hard to believe that in 2022 there are still communities that don’t have electricity, but more than 500 million people worldwide don’t have access to this kind of service that many consider ‘basic’.

This is the reality for people in the District of Toledo, in Belize, where several rural villages lie far away from the national electricity grid making it hard – and costly – to electrify their communities.

However, thanks to a partnership funded by the GEF’s Small Grants Program (SGP), three Mayan women solar engineers are installing solar energy systems and contributing to sustainable development in small indigenous communities in Southern Belize.

Florentina Choco, Miriam Choc and Cristina Choc, were trained by the Barefoot College in India to build and repair small household solar systems as part of a South-South cooperation exchange (Countries from the Global South sharing technical knowledge with their counterparts, without a developed country involved).

“ These women are shattering the glass ceiling! They have installed solar systems to four indigenous communities impacting over 1000 residents,” says Leonel Requena, SGP Belize National Coordinator.

In 2021, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, these solar engineers, along with national authorities and partners installed these solar energy systems to two of Belize’s most remote communities.

With the work in just one of these villages, Graham Creek , they powered 25 homes benefiting over 150 residents, as well as a primary school with 30 children.

The best of all, UNDP estimates they have helped avoid 6.5 tonnes of carbon emissions.

“Women are outstanding leaders in Belize driving the sustainable development agenda fostering harmony between nature and people for the benefit of both,” adds Mr. Requena.

2. Turning Barbados into a champion of Hawksbill turtles’ conservation

Did you know that extreme temperatures during heatwaves fuelled by climate change are literally cooking baby turtles in their nest ?

Hawksbill sea turtles are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered as their population is decreasing around the world.

For ages, they have been hunted for their eggs and meat and now they are also at risk from coastal development and our changing climate, among other threats.

But a small grant 20 years ago turned into a big opportunity for this species to thrive in the Caribbean Island of Barbados.

The Barbados Sea Turtle Project , based at the University of the West Indies’ Campus, is the home of the regional Marine Turtle Tagging Centre and the wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network.

Tagging turtles helps scientists and conservationists to track their movements, calculate their growth rates, survival and reproductive output.

Barbados is currently home to the second-largest Hawksbill turtle nesting population in the wider Caribbean, with up to 500 females nesting per year. Turtle nesting occurs on most of the beaches around the island, which, like many in the region, is heavily developed with tourism infrastructure.

The Barbados Sea Turtle Project tags these creatures, measures them and archives and analyses the data for over 30 coordinated projects in the region. These research projects inform their conservation activities.

Each August when the baby turtles hatch, the project runners are on call seven days a week to respond to emergencies that might include hatchlings wandering off in the wrong direction or preparing for swells that can wash away nests during hurricane season.

The project runners also help communities promote ecotourism based on best practices, which provides a source of income for local communities.

Barbados is now well known for the success of its sea turtle conservation activities. The degree to which the Hawksbill population has recovered thus far allows trainees to work with large numbers of turtles and experience the challenges posed by extensive coastal development.

The widely renowned project recently received a new small grant from the GEF of $46,310.

“Thanks to this grant [this project has] been able to offer persons from other sea turtle projects in the region the opportunity to be trained alongside BSTP volunteers in a South-to-South Exchange… The ongoing work of the Project is integral to the conservation and protection of threatened and endangered sea turtles, their terrestrial and marine habitats,” said Karen Harper, Programme Assistant of SGP in Barbados.

3. Helping Venezuelan indigenous families mitigate the degradation of the Amazon Forest

Puerto Ayacucho is the capital and largest city of the State of Amazonas in the south of Venezuela, its inhabitants include a number of local indigenous tribes, including the Yanomami, the Panare, the Bari, Piaroa and Guajibo (also known as Jibis).

Many of these populations have been displaced from their lands due to the socioeconomic crisis in the country, as well as the presence of armed groups and illegal mining activities.

The project Amazonas Originaria is currently training a group of indigenous displaced families to sustainably use and care for the tropical forests in the vicinity of Puerto Ayacucho. They are learning how to manage crops of cocoa, cupuaçu, manaca and túpiro (all amazon native plants) as well as how to transform their fruits into pulp, chocolates, baskets and other products.

“This project, in particular, is interesting and inspiring, as it is led by women… it supports the fight against climate change, since its purpose is to conserve the Amazon Forest as the main carbon sink in southern Venezuela, working hand in hand with native communities, valuing their traditions and protecting their ancestral habitat,” explains national SGP coordinator Alexis Bermúdez.

According to the UN Environment Programme, or UNEP , in the Amazon, the world’s largest remaining tropical rainforest, deforestation is reducing carbon stocks and altering the regional climate. The effects of climate change, forest degradation and more forest fires could result in 60 per cent of the Amazon rainforest disappearing by 2050.

The SGP-supported initiative not only trains members of the community to make Amazon-derived products and ecological packaging helping them to diversify their livelihoods, but at the same time it works to restore parts of the degraded tropical forest by re-planting native trees and other species.

“When families pass on this knowledge, we make indigenous communities gain the necessary strength and confidence to face the conservation of their culture and their environment, organize the community for the production and marketing of their products in more select markets and contribute directly to creating a sustainable economy,” Kenia Martinez from Amazonas Originaria notes.

4. Exchanging ideas to make tourism more eco-friendly and sustainable

Clearly, climate change and environmental degradation can´t be tackled by a single community, instead, unity is strength when we talk about exchanging ideas that have already proven successful.

The project Dialogue of Latin American Knowledge around Community Tourism has brought together community tourism ventures from Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Mexico to exchange experiences and good practices.

Tourism is the backbone of some economies and the source of livelihood for many people, especially those living in developing countries, but if mismanaged, it often puts pressure on natural resources through overconsumption, induces stress on local land use, as well as increases pollution and natural habitat loss.

Community tourism, on the other hand, is an economic alternative that allows local communities to generate complementary income to their main productive activities and at the same time protect and value the natural and cultural wealth of their territories.

“Alone we go faster, but together we go further,” Beatriz Schmitt, SGP Panama National Coordinator highlights.

The SGP-supported dialogues consisted of virtual trainings and good practices exchanges with 23 rural organizations focusing on local development, collaborative working networks, marketing, institutional perspective and biosafety protocols.

At the end of the virtual training, participants visited community tourism experiences in Costa Rica where the programme has been promoting rural tourism for 20 years and has established a robust institutional framework.

“Community tourism is a local strategy that brings income to rural communities. This project is important because tourism is not approached only as a business but instead, it is derived from experiences of land conservation where these communities live,” Viviana Rodriguez, SGP Programme Assistant in Panama tells UN News.

She adds that by conserving these areas for tourism and reducing other activities such as large-scale agriculture, small communities are also contributing to the fight against climate change.

5. Saving the water-rich Colombian Paramos, with a gender twist

Colombia's paramos, tundra ecosystems in the Andes mountains that are above the forest line but below the snowline, occupy just 1.7 per cent of the national territory, yet they produce 85 per cent of its drinking water.

Guardianas de los Páramos  (Paramos Women Guardians) is an Alliance between the GEF Small Grants Program and two other organizations that are supporting a variety of community projects focused on conservation and climate change adaptation in the Paramos Pisba and TotaBijagual-Mamapacha, about 280 km to the northeast of Bogotá.

The alliance puts special emphasis on women’s participation since historically, the intervention of women in environmental management has been diminished because of discrimination and inequitable access to resources.

A total of 37 projects were selected benefiting 2,400 families who had been working since 2020 to restore native plants, thus strengthening biological corridors and maintaining protected areas.

The initiatives also include aqueduct adaptation, as well as the implementation of homemade agroecological gardens to reduce the use of traditional productive systems that are harmful to the environment.

“It is necessary to implement actions aimed at controlling or reducing pressures on the paramo and to mitigate negative actions by extractive activities in the area, establishing conservation areas and measures to reduce risks associated with climate change”, says Catalina Avella, the alliance field coordinator.

Paramos are a unique Andean ecosystem, only found in high mountains of the north of South America, they are strategic not only due to their plant and animal biodiversity but also of their ecosystem services, including carbon sequestrations in the soil and water regulation.

The increase in temperatures and changes in rain patterns due to climate change poses a threat to these ecosystems, as well as mining and infrastructure projects.

Great projects, right? So, how can you get involved?

If you have a project related to climate change mitigation, reversing land degradation, sustainable forest management, or protecting biodiversity, visit the Small Grants Program website where you can find out how to apply depending on your country.

SGP grants are made directly to community-based organizations and non-governmental organizations in recognition of the key role they play as a resource and constituency for environment and development concerns. The maximum grant amount per project is $50,000 but averages around $25,000.

• climate change
• climate action
• development

Venture Beyond: 10 Inspiring Expeditions Into Community-Based Tourism Projects

By: Author Kitty Holland

Travel today transcends traditional sightseeing, evolving into a more immersive and impactful experience. Community-based tourism projects offer a unique opportunity to engage with local communities, understand their culture, and contribute positively to their development.

This guide explores various destinations where you can participate in and support these initiatives. From helping with conservation efforts in Africa to learning traditional crafts in Southeast Asia, each project allows you to connect deeply with local cultures while supporting sustainable tourism practices.

1. Conservation Efforts in Kenya

Image Credit: Shutterstock / padchas

In Kenya, community-based tourism takes a front seat in wildlife conservation efforts. Projects like the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies involve local communities in protecting the region’s iconic wildlife. As a visitor, you can participate in guided safaris led by local Maasai guides who share their in-depth knowledge of the ecosystem.

Your visit contributes to the conservancies’ efforts to protect species like lions, elephants, and rhinos. Additionally, many of these projects offer cultural experiences, such as village visits and traditional dance performances, providing a holistic understanding of the Maasai community’s way of life.

Insider’s Tip: Opt for lodges or camps that are part of the conservancy program, ensuring your stay directly benefits local conservation efforts.

2. Traditional Weaving in Guatemala

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Vlad Ispas

Guatemala has many community-based tourism projects focus on preserving traditional arts and crafts. Towns like San Juan La Laguna on Lake Atitlán are known for their textile cooperatives. Here, you can learn about the art of weaving from local artisans, understanding the significance of their traditional techniques and patterns.

Participating in these workshops provides you with a unique souvenir and supports the artisans and their craft. These cooperatives often use natural dyes and sustainable practices, making your participation a support for eco-friendly initiatives.

Insider’s Tip: Engage with the artisans, ask questions about their craft, and purchase directly from them to ensure they receive fair compensation.

3. Eco-Tourism

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Galyna Andrushko

Costa Rica, a pioneer in eco-tourism, offers a plethora of community-based tourism projects that focus on environmental sustainability. In areas like Monteverde and Tortuguero, local communities are deeply involved in preserving their unique ecosystems. You can participate in guided rainforest hikes, wildlife spotting tours, and even sea turtle conservation programs.

These experiences are led by local guides who provide invaluable insights into the biodiversity and conservation efforts of the region. Your participation in these tours enhances your understanding of environmental conservation and directly contributes to the livelihoods of local families and the protection of natural habitats.

Insider’s Tip: Choose tours and accommodations that are certified by the Costa Rican Tourism Board for their sustainability practices.

4. Cultural Immersion in Rajasthan, India

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Dmitry Rukhlenko

Rajasthan, India, offers a rich tapestry of community-based tourism experiences that allow for deep cultural immersion. Projects in villages like Chandelao and Barli enable visitors to experience the rural lifestyle of Rajasthan. You can participate in activities like cooking classes, traditional craft workshops, and village walks.

The locals curate these experiences, offering an authentic glimpse into their daily lives and traditions. By engaging with these communities, you enrich your travel experience and contribute to the local economy and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Insider’s Tip: Respect local customs and dress modestly during village tours and home visits.

5. Agro-Tourism in Tuscany, Italy

Image Credit: Shutterstock / GiorgioMagini

In Tuscany, Italy, agro-tourism is a growing trend where travelers can participate in sustainable farming practices. Local farms offer experiences like grape harvesting, olive picking, and cheese making. These activities provide an insight into the region’s traditional farming methods and food production.

Staying at a farm or agriturismo allows you to enjoy fresh, locally sourced food while supporting the local agricultural community. This form of tourism connects you with the land and its produce and promotes sustainable agricultural practices.

Insider’s Tip: Plan your visit during harvest seasons to participate in picking grapes or olives.

6. Community-Based Tourism in Thailand

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ana Flasker

Thailand offers a range of community-based tourism projects, particularly in the northern regions. Villages like Mae Kampong in Chiang Mai province specialize in eco-friendly tourism and cultural experiences. Visitors can engage in activities like Thai cooking classes, bamboo rafting, and learning about local tea production.

Staying in homestays and participating in daily village life allows for a genuine connection with the local community and supports their sustainable tourism initiatives.

Insider’s Tip: Learn a few phrases in Thai to communicate with your hosts and show respect for their culture.

7. Supporting Marine Conservation in the Philippines

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Dudarev Mikhail

With its rich marine biodiversity, the Philippines has several community-based tourism projects focused on marine conservation. In places like Apo Island, you can participate in snorkeling and diving tours that are managed by the local community.

These tours offer spectacular underwater experiences and educate visitors about marine conservation and the importance of protecting coral reefs. Your participation in these activities supports the local economy and funds conservation efforts, ensuring the preservation of these vital ecosystems for future generations.

Insider’s Tip: Always follow the guidelines provided by local guides to minimize your impact on the marine environment.

8. Participating in Wildlife Conservation in Botswana

Image Credit: Shutterstock / rebekkastutz

Botswana’s approach to wildlife tourism involves local communities in conservation and tourism management. Projects like the Okavango Community Trust offer opportunities to engage in wildlife monitoring and sustainable tourism practices.

Visitors can join guided wildlife safaris, bird-watching excursions, and cultural tours, all led by local community members. This provides an authentic wildlife experience and ensures that tourism’s benefits are shared with the local communities, contributing to wildlife conservation and community development.

Insider’s Tip: Opt for accommodations and tours that are part of community trusts or conservancies.

9. Engaging in Community Projects in Peru

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Yuri Ugarte – Supay

Peru offers unique community-based tourism experiences, particularly in the Andean regions. Projects in communities like the Sacred Valley involve locals in tourism, offering homestays, agricultural experiences, and cultural exchanges. Participating in these projects allows you to learn about Andean culture, traditions, and sustainable living practices. Your involvement supports the preservation of local culture and provides economic benefits to the community.

Insider’s Tip: Show appreciation for your hosts’ hospitality and participate actively in daily activities to gain the most from your experience.

10. Volunteering in Community Initiatives Worldwide

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Platoo Studio

Many destinations around the world offer volunteering opportunities in community-based projects. These can range from teaching English in schools to participating in environmental clean-ups. Volunteering allows you to contribute your skills and time to meaningful causes while immersing yourself in the local culture.

Insider’s Tip: Choose ethical volunteering projects that have a clear positive impact on the community.

The Bottom Line

Image Credit: Pexels / Alexander Suhorucov

As you embark on your journey of community-based tourism, remember that your travel choices can significantly impact. By participating in and supporting these projects, you’re not just a tourist but a contributor to sustainable development and cultural preservation. Embrace these experiences with an open heart and mind, and you’ll find that the most rewarding travels are those that connect you deeply with the world and its diverse communities.

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The post Venture Beyond: 10 Inspiring Expeditions Into Community-Based Tourism Projects republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / WBMUL.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

PassingThru is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Kitty Holland

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Tourism is a global industry, but many local businesses and communities do not benefit from it. There are some forms of tourism where no money reaches the hands of local people. Planeterra works to break this cycle by supporting and uplifting community tourism. By strengthening community tourism around the world, economic opportunities are created, places are protected, and cultures are celebrated through travel.

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Hawaiʻi tourism authority announces selected organizations for community stewardship and regenerative experiences programs.

For Immediate Release: August 20, 2024 HTA Release (24-24)

24-24 HTA Community Tourism Collaboratives - Announcement of Selected Organizations.pdf

HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) is proud to announce the selection of organizations for its Community Stewardship and Regenerative Experiences programs, two key initiatives under the Community Tourism Collaboratives (CTC).

A 2024 technical needs assessment completed by HTA in partnership with Kilohana by CNHA revealed key capacity-building activities that HTA could focus on to advance a regenerative tourism model for Hawaiʻi. Following a highly competitive application and rigorous evaluation process, 24 organizations have been chosen to participate in these transformative capacity-building programs aimed at fostering regenerative tourism and preserving Hawaiʻi’s cultural and natural resources.

“The selection of these remarkable organizations marks a significant step forward in our efforts to create a more regenerative and culturally respectful tourism model in Hawaiʻi,” said Mufi Hannemann, HTA Board Chair. “These cohort programs will empower our community partners to expand their invaluable work, ensuring that our islands’ cultural and natural resources are preserved and enriched for future generations.”

“We are thrilled to support these organizations as they lead Hawaiʻi’s transition to a regenerative model of tourism,” said Daniel Nāhoʻopiʻi, HTA’s Interim President & CEO. “The diverse range of organizations and projects that will receive capacity-building training and technical assistance through these programs highlight the innovative approaches being taken across the islands to mālama ʻāina and create meaningful visitor experiences.”

The selected organizations will commence their participation in the program cohorts immediately, with the expectation that all funded projects will be completed by December 1, 2024. HTA will continue to monitor and support these projects, ensuring that they align with the goals of the Community Tourism Collaboratives to advance regenerative tourism.

Nine organizations have been selected for the Community Stewardship Program, receiving technical assistance and funding to grow their stewardship work ranging from $18,500 to $50,000. This funding will support their efforts in protecting and revitalizing Hawaiʻi’s sacred spaces and important cultural sites. Each organization will benefit from capacity-building opportunities, including specialized workshops, professional services, and tailored consultations designed to enhance their stewardship activities.

Ahupuaʻa ʻO Hālawa 
Hālawa Valley, Molokaʻi
 As stewards of this ʻāina for over 27 years, Ahupuaʻa ʻO Hālawa (AOH) has a long-standing commitment to the stewardship of Hālawa Valley. Founded in April of this year, its mission is to preserve and protect the valley’s cultural and natural resources through community engagement and education. AOH plans to use the ʻike and funding gained through this program to utilize marketing and cultural education consultants to develop their website and online presence, in order to become a greater player and steward of culturally-based, regenerative programs on Molokaʻi. Follow-on funding: $42,500.

ʻĀina Hoʻōla Initiative
 Keaukaha, Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island
 ʻĀina Hoʻōla Initiative (‘AHI) is an all-volunteer organization with a mission to restore and conserve loko iʻa (Native Hawaiian fishponds) and wetlands at Lokowaka Pond complex to create a thriving, balanced ecosystem. ʻAHI seeks guidance to develop their organization in areas of document creation, volunteer management, data collection, and funding; and plans to use program funds to hire a project manager, purchase materials for restoration work at Lokowaka, and hire Kupu Hawai‘i for conservation work. Follow-on funding: $50,000. East Maui Land Restoration 
Honomanū Waterfall, Maui
 East Maui Land Restoration 501(c)(3) serves as an umbrella for Hāna Highway Regulation, a visitor education and tourism management initiative for Hāna Highway, and East Maui Farm which focuses on rebuilding ancient taro patches at Honomanū. The funding requested will be utilized to enhance stewardship efforts and acquire necessary equipment for efforts to restore land into the future. Follow-on funding: $44,000.

Haleakalā Conservancy 
 Haleakalā, Maui
 Haleakalā Conservancy has been the philanthropic partner of Haleakalā National Park for the last four years, supporting programs (e.g., night stargazing) and other initiatives (e.g., powered wheelchairs for visitors) that are otherwise not covered in the National Park Service budget. The Conservancy seeks to build a robust volunteer network and develop internal capacity to apply for grants in the future. Follow-on funding: $50,000.

Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawā 
Wahiawā, Oʻahu 
Wahiawā Hawaiian Civic Club was organized 89 years ago to specifically maintain Kūkaniloko Birth Site, share her moʻolelo, and to preserve all things Hawaiian – seen and unseen. Since Kūkaniloko Birth Site is no longer publicly accessible without expressed entry permission, Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawā will be using their funding to develop their moʻolelo and “sense of place” in an online, virtual format; and learn from professionals about how to best collect data for future grant and funding requests to keep the work of this near century-old organization going for generations to come. Follow-on funding: $50,000.

Hui Aloha Kīholo Kīholo State Park Reserve, Hawaiʻi Island
 Founded in 2007, Hui Aloha Kīholo (HAK) seeks to protect Kīholo in pono ways by activating community to mālama ʻāina, developing a sustainable revenue model (e.g., camping permits), educating keiki in place-based environmental and cultural practices, and protecting wahi pana such as Keanalele cave and Wai ʻŌpae from further degradation. Through this program, HAK seeks to update their website, creating a comprehensive community resource particularly to promote involvement opportunities, and hopes to develop a better, more integrated data collection plan. Follow-on funding: $50,000.

Hui O Laka 
Kōkeʻe & Waimea Canyon, Kauaʻi
 Hui o Laka operates the Kōkeʻe Museum, a natural history and cultural museum founded in 1954 with the intention of educating the public about Kōkeʻe and Waimea Canyon. Hui o Laka seeks to expand its virtual outreach and camping reservation system by modernizing and enhancing its website and social media presence, and thus share ʻike of Kōkeʻe with a broader audience within and beyond the pae ʻāina. Follow-on funding: $18,500.

North Shore Community Land Trust
 Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu
 Founded in 1997, North Shore Community Land Trust (NSCLT) is a community-driven organization focused on the preservation and protection of the 60,000+ acres of Oʻahu’s North Shore, including through specific programs like Waialeʻe Laka Pono that seeks to restore the native ecosystem and food systems in the ahupuaʻa of Waialeʻe. Funding will be used to clear invasive plants from the Waialeʻe area, host community work days, and initiate agroforestry as a new pillar for restoration alongside mālama for the loʻi kalo and wetlands. Follow-on funding: $50,000.

Pōhāhā I Ka Lani
 Waipiʻo Valley, Hawaiʻi Island
 Established in 2001, Pōhāhā I Ka Lani conducts place-based cultural education, land stewardship, and community engagement at sacred places throughout Waipi‘o Valley and ‘Ōla‘a on Hawai‘i Island. The organization is seeking fundraising guidance and organizational development opportunities (e.g., revenue generation, staff training) through their participation in this program. Follow-on funding: $45,000.

Fifteen organizations have been chosen for the Regenerative Experiences Program, with direct funding to seed their regenerative transformation ranging from $20,000 to $35,000. These funds will be used to develop and enhance visitor experiences that are deeply rooted in the principles of regenerative tourism. By participating in this program, organizations will create market-ready activities that foster reciprocal relationships between residents and visitors, ensuring that the benefits of tourism are shared by all. Aloha with Touch Kauaʻi
 Islandwide, Kaua‘i
 Aloha with Touch Kauaʻi is committed to providing high-quality cultural and wellness retreat experiences. The organization hopes to increase partnerships with local experience providers, host more local retreats, and transition from a classic business model to a more purpose-driven approach focused on transforming perceptions of Hawaiʻi for visitors. Follow-on funding: $20,000.

Ancient Leaf Tea
 Onomea Bay, Pāpaʻikou, Hawaiʻi Island
 Ancient Leaf Tea is a family-owned and operated LLC founded in 2004 with the mission of producing the finest in organically and regeneratively grown teas and produce on its farm near Onomea Bay. The company currently has one major farm tour offering called the Tea Tour and Tasting, a two-and-a-half hour long experience that starts with a one-hour tour of tea fields and market gardens. Given that the length and price of this tour is geared toward higher-spending visitors, they hope to expand their operations to be more accessible for larger groups and local community members. Follow-on funding: $24,000.

Anelakai
 Keauhou Bay, Kona, Hawaiʻi Island
 Anelakai is a paddle-powered ocean tourism company based in Keauhou Bay on the island of Hawaiʻi which offers guided, culturally-rich Hawaiian Double Hull Canoe tours as well as kayak tours. Anelakai’s goal is to be truly sustainable and non-invasive with no motors, leaving no carbon footprint, yet leaving a love and appreciation for the ocean and island with everyone they host. Program funds will allow the company to further hone their guides’ knowledge of the areas they tour, as well as customize their food and beverage offerings to be locally made and sourced. Follow-on funding: $20,000.

Common Ground Kauaʻi
 Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi
 Common Ground Kauaʻi is a 63-acre, regenerative hospitality company that offers a Farm and Food Experience from Monday through Friday that includes a 45-minute tour of their agroforest followed by a 100% locally sourced meal. They would like to build on this success by expanding offerings to include more culturally grounded experiences which adhere to their commitment of sourcing 100% of its ingredients locally and sharing the cultural traditions and stories of ʻŌiwi culture. Follow-on funding: $35,000.

Hāna Arts Hāna, Maui
 Established in 1991, Hāna Arts has evolved into a comprehensive arts and cultural education provider, offering a wide array of cultural and artistic programs. Hāna Arts seeks to enhance and expand its cultural workshop offerings at the Hāna Farmers Market. These workshops, which currently include experiences such as lei making, lauhala weaving, and ulana niu (coconut frond weaving) are a cornerstone of their community engagement and cultural preservation efforts. Follow-on funding: $20,000.

Hoʻi Hoʻi Ea 
Waikāne, Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu
 Hoʻi Hoʻi Ea is a community-driven, Native Hawaiian-led organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Hawaiian cultural practices and natural resources. The organization is currently exploring and developing a co-stewardship model with the City and County of Honolulu, securing rights of access to 29 acres of the 500-acre parcel designated for preservation in Waikāne Valley. Within the next two to three years, they envision transforming the site into a dynamic pilot project that serves as a vibrant community hub and cultural park. Participation in this program helps lay the foundation for this dramatic future expansion. Follow-on funding: $25,000.

Honpa Hongwanji Hawaiʻi Betsuin 
Honolulu & Waiʻanae, Oʻahu
 Honpa Hongwanji Hawaiʻi Betsuin (HHHB) is the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Hawaiʻi, which brings together spiritual leaders from the community of Waiʻanae, Oʻahu. These leaders have come together to discuss the creation of a special experience that offers exposure to indigenous Hawaiian spirituality and Buddhist spirituality/philosophy, and the intersection between the two worldviews. HHHB intends to flesh out this experience through participation in this program with a launch in the near future. Follow-on funding: $25,000. KAʻEHU
 Paukūkalo, Wailuku, Maui
 KAʻEHU currently runs a program called the Community Environmental Stewardship Program (CESP) which acts as a huakaʻi for residents and visitors. With the intention of regenerating coastal ecology and Hawaiian cultural practices, this program facilitates stewardship upon the lands of the nonprofit, utilizing the ʻauwai, loʻi kalo, māla, its green house, and the shoreline of Kaʻehu Bay (and eventually its loko iʻa) to provide mālama activities on ʻāina. Integrating both the spectrum of service of the CESP and the intentionality of its voluntourism activities, KAʻEHU would like to expand its services to conference and convention attendees traveling to Maui. Follow-on funding: $25,000.

Kahuku Farms 
Kahuku, Oʻahu
 Kahuku Farms, located on the North Shore of Oʻahu, is a five-acre, family-owned farm with an onsite Farm Café that opened in October 2010. Their “Farm to Table” guided tour and seasonal fruit tasting is offered Thursday to Monday throughout the year. At the beginning of 2024, Kahuku Farms made it a goal to improve their guest experience and tour offerings, as their farm is so diversified and there is so much to share. Through this program, they seek to revamp their tour program to offer new and more immersive experiences for guests. Follow-on funding: $34,000.

Kuilima Farm 
 Kahuku, Oʻahu Kuilima Farm is a 468-acre farm on Oʻahu’s North Shore in Kahuku which seeks to emphasize sustainable agriculture, reduce reliance on imported goods, and enhance food security on the island through guided tours and experiences. The Kuilima Farm tour currently takes guests through the Piko that showcases native plants. However, by integrating traditional planting methods, storytelling, and display exhibits with assistance from this program, they aim to create a transformative visitor journey that not only educates but also inspires a deeper appreciation for Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural heritage. Follow-on funding: $27,500. Mahina Farms Maui 
ʻĪao, Wailuku, Maui
 Mahina Farms Maui is a Native Hawaiian-owned family farm nestled in ʻĪao Valley, whose passion lies in cultivating native and non-native plants, canoe crops, and other species with specific cultural uses, honoring its ancestral knowledge and connection to the land. Through this program, they envision developing a transformative small-group cultural immersion experience that invites visitors to connect deeply with Native Hawaiian traditions, ʻike, and ʻāina. Follow-on funding: $25,000.

Men of PAʻA 
Pāhoa, Puna, Hawaiʻi Island
 The mission of the Men of PAʻA is to empower and enable Kānaka Maoli, particularly Native Hawaiian men coming out of the justice system who seek recovery, restoration, and reconciliation with themselves, their ‘ohana and their community. The organization’s Imu Mea ʻAi initiative offers immersive experiences in traditional Hawaiian cooking and cultural practices. They aim to expand their farm operations to grow more Hawaiian staple foods like ʻuala and ʻulu and source more local ingredients, and develop and diversify their visitor experiences. Follow-on funding: $25,500.

Moloka‘i Land Trust
 Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi
 The mission of the Moloka‘i Land Trust is to protect and restore the land and natural and cultural resources of Moloka‘i. Moloka‘i Land Trust works to promote, educate, and perpetuate the unique Native Hawaiian traditions and character of the island for the benefit of future generations of all Moloka‘i, particularly Native Hawaiians. The organization’s funding request is designed to support a new project focused on the establishment of a yellow seeded wiliwili forest and complementary understory native vegetation to support traditional lei makers on the island. Follow-on funding: $35,500.

North Shore EcoTours
 Haleʻiwa, Waialua, Oʻahu 
Founded in 2009, North Shore EcoTours is a mālama ʻāina focused eco-tour program aimed at building environmental and cultural resiliency in Hawaiʻi through regenerative tourism practices with a weekly tour schedule consisting of two different hiking experiences and three unique off-road driving excursions. The company would like to incorporate more mālama ʻāina work into their day-to-day activities. Follow-on funding: $25,000.

Tea Hawaiʻi & Company
 Volcano Village, Puna, Hawaiʻi Island 
Tea Hawaiʻi & Company was established in 2006 by Eva Lee & Chiu Leong to expand Hawaiʻi tea agriculture and farming culture while preserving Hawaiʻi’s native forest environment. The company currently offers tea tour and tasting experiences headquartered in Volcano Village. One of their primary program objectives is to scale up marketing to inform the public about Hawaiʻi’s first generation of the specialty crop tea culture, and further engage the Japan visitor market. Follow-on funding: $34,000.

Media Contacts:

T. Ilihia Gionson Public Affairs Officer Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (808) 973-2255 (o) [email protected]

Support Local Communities with Community Based Tourism

Table of contents :

I- discover the power of community based tourism, definition of community based tourism.

Community based tourism is a form of tourism that involves the participation of local communities in the design and operation of tourism activities. It aims to provide economic and social benefits to the local community while also preserving cultural traditions and protecting the environment .

Importance of supporting local communities and the environment

Supporting local communities and the environment is increasingly important as the tourism industry grows. By choosing to participate in community based tourism , travelers can contribute to the development and prosperity of local communities while also having authentic and meaningful travel experiences.

In this article, we will explore the benefits of community based tourism and how it can support local communities and the environment. We will also provide examples of successful community based tourism initiatives , such as the Ccaccollo community project in Peru , which has used tourism as a tool to protect and preserve natural and cultural resources while also providing economic opportunities for women in the community .

II- The benefits of community based tourism

Generating income for local businesses and families

Generating income for local businesses and families: community based tourism initiatives often provide a source of income for local businesses and families. For example, the Ccaccaccollo Women's Weaving Co-op in Peru has been able to contribute to their families' income and provide employment for 60 women in the community through their partnership with Planeterra . This type of tourism helps to stimulate economic growth in local communities and can provide an alternative to traditional industries that may not be as sustainable or environmentally friendly.

Preserving cultural traditions and heritage

Preserving cultural traditions and heritage: community based tourism can also help to preserve cultural traditions and heritage. In the case of the Ccaccaccollo Women's Weaving Co-op, tourism has provided a way to protect and preserve natural and cultural resources, and to express, share, develop, and pursue traditional weaving techniques. By supporting these types of initiatives, travelers can help to keep traditional cultures alive and thriving.

Supporting sustainable development and conservation efforts

Supporting sustainable development and conservation efforts: community based tourism can also support sustainable development and conservation efforts in local communities. By partnering with organizations like Planeterra , communities can use tourism as a tool to preserve their natural and cultural resources. This type of tourism can also provide an alternative to industries that may not be as sustainable or environmentally friendly, helping to reduce the impact on local ecosystems.

Providing authentic travel experiences

Providing authentic travel experiences: Finally, community based tourism offers travelers the opportunity to have authentic and immersive travel experiences. By engaging with local communities and learning about their traditions and culture, travelers can have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the destination they are visiting. This type of tourism allows for a more authentic and meaningful travel experience that cannot be found through traditional tourism options.

III- Example of a successful community based tourism project: Ccaccaccollo community in Peru

Background on the community and its challenges

The Ccaccaccollo community is located in the Andean area of Cuzco, Peru and is inhabited primarily by 140 Quechua speaking families. Despite being located near popular tourist destinations such as Cuzco and Machu Picchu, very few surrounding communities have benefited from tourism. The Ccaccaccollo community maintains a traditional way of life, with many people working in agriculture. However, like many communities around the world, women in the Ccaccaccollo community have often been excluded from educational and economic opportunities.

Description of the Ccaccaccollo Women's Weaving Co-op and Community Homestay

To address this issue, Planeterra , a non-profit organization, developed a partnership with the Ccaccaccollo community in 2005 to create a women's weaving cooperative. The goal of the cooperative was to provide economic opportunities for the women of the community through the production and sale of traditional woven items made from llama and alpaca wool. Planeterra provided capacity building programs, built facilities, and purchased equipment for the co-op, as well as supporting the women with new methods of production to make their items more desirable to travelers.

Since its inception, the Ccaccaccollo Women's Weaving Co-op has grown significantly. It is now owned by 46 women, up from just 3 when the project first began. The cooperative has been able to contribute to the income of their families, and those involved in the cooperative are the first generation to be completely literate in Spanish. The success of the cooperative has also led to the development of a Community Homestay in the community.

Impact of the project on the community and its members

The Ccaccaccollo community tourism project has had a significant impact on the community and its members. The women who have been involved in the project since the beginning report that all of their children now study in university. In addition, the project has helped to protect and preserve natural and cultural resources, as well as allowing the community to express, share, develop, and pursue their traditions through tourism. The project has also provided a way for the community to use tourism as a tool for sustainable development and conservation efforts. Overall, the Ccaccaccollo community tourism project is a great example of the benefits of community based tourism and how it can support local communities and the environment.

Watch the video from Planeterra :

IV- How to support community based tourism

Tips for travelers on how to participate in responsible tourism.

As travelers, there are many ways to support and participate in responsible tourism and community based tourism. Here are some tips on how to get involved:

• Research and book with companies that prioritize community based tourism: Look for travel companies and organizations that prioritize the involvement and benefit of local communities in their tourism offerings. This can include supporting local businesses, preserving cultural traditions, and promoting sustainable development.
• Choose accommodations and activities that are locally owned and operated: When booking accommodations and activities, consider supporting locally owned and operated businesses. This can help to ensure that the economic benefits of tourism are directly benefiting the local community.
• Respect local customs and traditions: When traveling to a new destination, it's important to respect the customs and traditions of the local community. This can include dressing modestly, avoiding loud noise or behavior, and asking permission before taking photos of people.
• Be a responsible traveler : Be mindful of your impact on the environment and the local community. This can include reducing your use of single-use plastics, respecting wildlife and natural habitats, and supporting local conservation efforts.

Ways to research and book community based tourism experiences

Ways to research and book community based tourism experiences: One way to support community based tourism is to book your trip through a responsible travel agency , such as Travel Differently . At Travel Differently , we prioritize authentic and immersive experiences that benefit local communities and the environment. We work with local partners and support initiatives that empower communitie s and preserve cultural traditions . By booking with us, you can have the peace of mind that your trip is supporting sustainable tourism practices .

The role of travel companies and organizations in promoting community based tourism

Travel companies and organizations also have a role to play in promoting and supporting community based tourism. This can include partnering with local communities to offer authentic travel experiences , investing in sustainable tourism initiative s, and promoting responsible tourism practices . By supporting community based tourism, travelers and travel companies can help to create positive and lasting impacts on local communities and the environment.

V- Embrace the Power of Community-Based Tourism: Make a Positive Impact on Your Next Trip

In conclusion, community based tourism is a sustainable and responsible way to travel that benefits both the traveler and the local community. By supporting local businesses and cultural traditions, travelers can contribute to the long-term economic and social development of the communities they visit.

At Travel Differently , we believe in the power of tourism to create positive change and are committed to partnering with communities around the world to create authentic and meaningful travel experiences. We encourage all travelers to consider the impact of their trip and to choose community based tourism as a way to support local communities and preserve cultural traditions.

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What is Community-Based Tourism and Why Does it Matter?

Written by Ece Zivrali on July 13, 2022 . Posted in Uncategorized .

Community-based tourism is one of the most significant parts of the tourism industry and key to destination sustainability. Despite their importance, communities are often neglected in tourism. Many tourism destinations overlook local peoples, or at best use them as gimmicks and labor for foreign visitors. Instead, tourism should serve as a tool to improve destination development and locals’ quality of life.

What is a community and what does it mean for tourism?

A community is defined as individuals living in the same region with common interests and interactions. However, community means more than sharing the same physical environment – many social-cultural factors are in play to create a community. In tourism, a community encompasses anyone living in a destination and is affected by tourism, either directly or indirectly.

The importance of communities in tourism destinations

What is community-based tourism.

Community-based tourism falls under the umbrella of sustainable tourism . It aims to involve communities in aspects of tourism, ranging from planning to active participation. Community-based tourism seeks to support communities through tourism activities, and aims to offer tourists an authentic local experience. Solimar International has developed a CBT project in Timor-Leste.

In contemporary tourism planning, especially in developing countries, the voices of local residents often go unheard. Community empowerment aims to create dynamic and self-sufficient communities that will make decisions for their own well-being.

Unfortunately, a lack of sustainable planning in tourism ventures can create adverse effects in local communities. Community-based tourism aims to incorporate sustainability efforts and reduce the negative impacts of tourism, both on the environment and the residents of destinations.

What are the potential negative impacts of tourism on communities?

When done thoughtfully with stakeholders in mind, tourism is hugely beneficial to communities. There are many reasons why it is important to measure the negative impacts of tourism.  To better understand the importance of thoughtful community-based tourism, let’s look at some of the potential negative impacts of tourism on communities.

1. Economic Leakage and Higher Prices

Tourism greatly influences communities in developing countries, especially those that take in large amounts of foreign currency. The profit generated from tourism–if not used to benefit communities–can create revenue leakage, and may lead to inflation in the destination, making it hard for locals to gain or keep economic independence.

2. Dependence on Tourism

Communities become economically vulnerable when tourism is their main source of income. They can become dependent on foreign visitors and have difficulty sustaining their economy during off-seasons.

3. Commercialization of Traditions and Customs

Especially with regard to mass tourism, local peoples and their cultures have become marketing assets for tourism profit. Instead of preservation, local traditions and customs are commodified and used as tools to attract more tourists.

4. Cultural Deterioration

Interaction between locals and visitors can cause cultural clashes, and the rapid changes caused by an influx of tourism may agitate a community’s harmony and disrupt traditional living.

5. Environmental Damage

Tourism can also cause harm to the environment, leading to losses of natural resources and biodiversity, as well as general deterioration of the local biosphere as a whole.

Why is community important for sustainable tourism?

For a destination to be sustainable, tourism’s adverse economic, environmental, and social impacts should be limited. Local communities are motivated to minimize negative impacts to their homes in order to continue living in them, which is why community inclusion in the tourism sector is essential for sustainability. 

1. A Self-sustained and Locally Managed Economy

Community-based tourism ensures locals make their own decisions and keep the money within their community. As a result, communities become self-sustainable. The funds created by tourism activities stay within the community and are used for its own good.

2. Going Back to Basics: Local knowledge for preservation and sustainability

Locals know how to maintain and protect their land. They are permanent residents, and they care about their environment. Locals also hold knowledge beyond what tourism professionals can provide. They know what is appropriate or not for their environment. Local involvement ensures tourism sustainability. Locals are trained to protect and sustain their environment for themselves and future touristic activities.

3. Active Participation and Community Involvement

In community-based tourism, locals actively participate in the tourism decision-making process, which causes communities to gain confidence and their voice to be heard. It is important to include communities for sustainability, as community decisions have more considerable impacts than that of individuals.

4. Increased Value and Protection of Local Culture

Community-based tourism is also essential for cultural preservation. The publicity of local cultures encourages locals to value and preserve their traditions and culture.

What are the benefits of community-based tourism to travelers?

Community-based tourism not only benefits locals, but also travelers.

H ere are some benefits of community tourism for travelers:

1. experiencing the authentic culture.

Community-based tourism gets closer to the community and the authentic culture. While a coach tour stops in a local village to buy handicrafts, community-based tourism involves tourists with the community and its lifestyle, which is a two-way interaction. Community-based tourism moves from the stereotypical, commercialized part of tourism to a genuine experience.

2. Unique Locations

Community-based tourism includes locations that mass tour operators may not prefer. It involves unique experiences and culturally dense areas fed by local knowledge.

3. Ethical Awareness and Responsible Traveling

Community-based tourism aims to provide opportunities for travelers to help locals. Tourists will know that their money is used for a good reason – the development of the destination. They will also leave knowing they have left a positive footprint.

4. Warm Welcome by Locals

Tourists have an unforgettable experience when they feel welcomed by locals. Community-based tourism puts importance on communities and tourists’ relationship with locals. Locals’ attitude is one of the leading influencers of why people prefer to travel to a destination.

C onclusion

In short, tourism has a significant influence on communities, especially in developing countries. Most tourism destinations ignore locals and use them as a tool to attract more tourists.

To the contrary, community-based tourism includes locals in every part of the tourism planning and managing process. Locals learn to be active participants. They build value and confidence, improve their knowledge, and interact with tourists, which creates mutual understanding and learning. The more locals feel supported by tourism, the more they support and further tourism, which favors destination sustainability and protection of the culture and its values. Community-based tourism helps locals when traveling to a destination. It is a win-win situation for everyone involved in tourism.

Interested in how we can help you with community-based tourism? Contact us to learn more.

Tags: community based tourism , community tourism , costa rica tourism , negative tourism , sustainable tourism , thai tourism

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Community-Based Tourism: Empowering Local Champions for Sustainable Tourism in Thailand

November 6, 2022.

Pattamon Rungchavalnont

Head of Solutions Mapping, Accelerator Lab, Thailand

Thailand is among the world's top tourist destinations. The country’s diverse geographical settings and rich cultural capital provide a vast variety of tourism experiences from relaxing by beautiful sandy beaches of the South to exploring lush green forests of the mountainous North and enjoying local cultures in the Northeast. In 2019, Thailand welcomed a record high of 40 million visitors. For this reason, tourism is a major driver of Thailand’s economic development, providing around 20% of the national GDP and employing over 4.2 million people (11% of total employment). However, Thailand’s tourism industry is not without negative side effects. Unsustainable management of tourism has proven to cause environmental degradation and biodiversity loss as well as fuel uneven economic development. Oftentimes, economic benefits from tourism fall into the hands of large tour operators and investors from the outside while local communities gain minimum economic benefit and are left to suffer many social and environmental drawbacks.  

While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major setback to the tourism industry, it also provides an opportunity for Thailand to rethink its tourism. Sustainable and resilient tourism has become a key theme for the country and is now one of UNDP Thailand’s focus areas. UNDP Accelerator Lab Thailand seized this opportunity to embark on a journey to support the growing momentum for sustainable tourism by contributing innovative approaches to the redefinition of the country’s tourism industry, specifically from the angle of community-based tourism.

Why community-based tourism?

Emerged in Thailand in the 1990s, ‘community-based tourism (CBT)’ proposes the idea of ‘tourism by the local people for the local people’ . It is one of the solutions for sustainable tourism because, under this framework, local people are the key decision-makers of their tourism development and the ones to fully benefit from it. Being long-term residents of the areas, local communities are more incentivised to balance economic growth and socio-cultural and environmental impacts caused by tourism activities. At the end of the day, it is their home. However, it is crucial to clear the misconception that CBT refers to ‘village tourism,’ limited only to certain styles of tourism that take place in rural areas. CBT is a tourism management model that puts local communities at the center of the process and can encompass diverse tourism styles from rural tourism to urban tourism, nature tourism, or even luxury tourism. Essentially, CBT is about community empowerment as it is a process in which local people are empowered to uplift their own livelihood.

The pandemic has posed both challenges and opportunities for CBT. International travel restrictions caused a major drop in foreign visitors which used to make up a significant portion of visitors for CBT. Local communities needed to adjust themselves to the domestic tourism market and diversify their offers e.g. community products beyond tourism activities. On the other hand, the pandemic has shaped new tourist behaviours- traveling in smaller groups, choosing less crowded destinations, escaping to nature, and searching for unique experiences and activities for well-being, among others. Many of these new preferences match very well with what CBT can offer and can potentially pave way for a golden age of CBT. Moreover, pandemic-induced lockdowns in major cities led to a reverse in rural-urban migration. Many people working in the cities returned to their hometowns during the lockdown and some sought to find livelihood options at home. CBT provides an alternative and in turn benefits from increased human resources- the skilled workforce who have gained skills and exposure from their time working in the cities. All in all, it is an important time for CBT to take the next step to ensure its thrivability in this rapidly changing world.

Making sense of CBT and contemplating on the way forward

            As a starting point, national-level workshops were co-organized by UNDP Accelerator Lab Thailand, Thailand Policy Lab, the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) , and Local Alike (one of Thailand’s leading social enterprises working on CBT). Representatives from local communities, relevant governmental agencies, the private sector, civil society organizations, and academia exchanged views on trends and weak signals affecting CBT as well as discussed the desirable future and way forward. A few interesting points from the exercise include:

• CBT can go beyond leisure tourism and provide learning experiences for visitors, for example community-based environmental conservation and waste management and tap into opportunities from the rise of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model of the government.
• Communities need to build the next generation of CBT leaders. Involvement and incentives for the new generation are key for successful engagement and transition.
• Planning and decision-making should be a bottom-up and collaborative process between the government and local communities to avoid projects which do not fit local contexts or serve the real needs of stakeholders. For instance, many tourism applications were created but abandoned.
• Multisectoral support is crucial for CBT development e.g. support from the private sector on digital transformation, academia on CBT-related curriculum for young leaders, etc.
• Funding mechanisms must be further developed e.g. shifting from an informal arrangement to a social enterprise, setting up CBT development funds, etc.

While the discussion revealed multiple areas for development, capacity building for local communities stood out as one of the prerequisites for success. Since local communities are the main drivers of CBT, they must be equipped with frameworks and tools that will enable them to flourish in the rapidly changing world. Existing capacity-building initiatives have been fairly successful in supporting local communities to begin their CBT journey, often focusing on building the foundation and taking a short/medium-term view. While such emphasis is essential, it might not be sufficient any longer. Especially once local communities manage to set up the basics of their CBT, they also need to start thinking about sustainability and being anticipatory. As a result, the Lab identified this as our area of work: how local communities can make their CBT become more sustainable.

Learnings with the locals

            UNDP Accelerator Lab Thailand in collaboration with Local Alike joined hands with two pilot communities to start our learning journey. Social innovation tools were applied to invite local stakeholders to reflect on the becoming of their CBT and look forward through the lens of sustainability. Given the different nature of each community, the discussions and sustainability initiatives took on different directions. However, one commonality revealed itself. Community is never homogeneous; CBT development is an area of convergence for different groups to interact and build momentum toward sustainability. To elaborate, let’s take a closer look at each of the pilot communities…

Chulabhorn Pattana 9 community: A case of nature-based tourism from the South

As a neighbour of the world-famous Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, Chulabhorn Pattana 9 community of Yala province in Southern Thailand has attracted many nature lovers; some visited the village just to enjoy the serenity and beauty of the natural environment while others were excited by the rich biodiversity of the Hala-Bala Forest, not to mention the village’s charming cultural heritage from their Community Malaya time. The village is familiar with receiving visitors as they have been welcoming relatives and friends from Malaysia and Singapore (legacy of Community Malaya time) for decades. Eight years ago, the concept of CBT was introduced, and the new generation stepped up to lead CBT management. The intergenerational difference is reflected in the different views on tourism management- one hoping to increase the number of visitors while another seeking to keep the delicate balance. The new generation realizes that their main target group is nature lovers. Thus, nature is the main capital for their CBT and its conservation is of paramount importance. Hence, the discussion about limiting the number of visitors with consideration of the area’s carrying capacity was very well received by the CBT management team.

CBT at Chulabhorn Pattana 9 does not only aim to mitigate the negative effects of tourism activities but also inspires positive changes in the local community. In many cases, tourism may have resulted in waste management problems. On the contrary, for Chulabhorn Pattana 9 community, the visitors are the ones demanding that waste in the village needs to be better managed. Hearing these comments, the CBT management team was eager to start a waste management initiative with support from the Lab and Local Alike. Waste separation and organic compost-making have been pioneered by the CBT group and will be shared with fellow villagers to inspire more people to join the effort.

In addition, the CBT management team sought to further develop tourism activities that highlight the value of biodiversity and incentivize conservation. Birdwatching was identified as a viable option. Interestingly, apart from our support, birdwatching was born out of collaboration with a visitor who happens to be a bird expert, an ex-member of the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand. Feeling that Chulabhorn Pattana 9 is more than a touristic destination to him, this bird expert saw the potential and was more than willing to help provide training on birdwatching to local guides. Chulabhorn Pattana 9 is able to shift from selling their services to ‘tourists’ to building relationships with ‘visitors’, some of whom have become ‘friends’ to co-create a sustainable future for their CBT.

Nong San community: Local life and craft in the Northeast

Nong San community of Sakon Nakhon province in the Northeast of Thailand is famous for its indigo dye handicrafts. Traditional knowledge on indigo dye has been passed on from generation to generation at Nong San village. When combined with the skills of a new generation artist, Pornpimon Mingmitmee, this cultural capital becomes the starting point of Nong San CBT. Visitors, both craft lovers and chillax tourists, enjoy the simple slow life and recharge themselves with natural dye crafts, organic agriculture, and the beauty in the local lifestyle. However, the early days of Nong San CBT were not all easy. The community did not believe that CBT was viable at first, so Pornpimon had to start small and gradually showed other people the success to inspire more support from within the village and nearby community. Furthermore, with the COVID-19-induced lockdown, villagers who used to work in other cities returned to the village and joined force to expand Nong San CBT. However, unlike Chulabhorn Pattana 9 case, Nong San CBT opts for a more decentralized model where each member acts as an independent micro-entrepreneur and loosely connects to provide tour packages for visitors. Therefore, the work here was about business incubation for female micro-entrepreneurs to enhance the distribution of benefits from CBT among the local people. Entrepreneurial skills, including digital marketing, were provided to interested locals.

Circularity is another theme as Pornpimon has been trying to manage waste materials from textile crafts production e.g. left-over threads and fabric scraps. Drawing inspiration from India, the initial idea was to turn textile waste into paper. Local knowledge in Thailand provides a technique for turning natural fibers into handmade paper. Yet, from the prototyping phase, cotton textile waste has proven to be more difficult to handle than other fibers. An alternative was presented as Pornpimon connected with a company working on recycled textiles. The idea is to compile textile waste from the local community, turn it into recycled fabrics, and send it back to the community as raw materials for new products. At the time of writing, the discussion is still ongoing to develop a suitable model of collaboration. This case demonstrates the power of cross-sectoral collaboration in driving CBT toward sustainability.

Sharing our experiences

    Through the working process with our partners, UNDP Accelerator Lab Thailand was able to learn about CBT development as well as share our social innovation tools with key change agents like Local Alike and relevant governmental agencies. Realizing the value of these tools in facilitating processes towards sustainability and resilience, the Lab together with Local Alike co-produced the Community-Based Tourism Social Innovation Playbook to share with others the experience of Thailand. The Playbook emphasized that social innovation process is not linear. While the tools are categorized into three groups (making sense of the past and present; looking forward to the future; and taking actions), users can always jump back and forth between each category of tools to fill the gaps of knowledge as they surface. Case studies from our work with Chulabhorn Pattana 9 and Nong San communities demonstrate this non-linear journey as well as the fact that no two communities are alike; thus, the social innovation tools must be ultilized in consideration of specific local contexts.

In addition to the publication, the Accelerator Lab Thailand will be working with the Accelerator Lab Bangladesh on CBT development in their context. Follow our next blog to see how Thailand’s experiences can be adapted and what lessons we will learn on the journey to transform tourism into a vehicle for sustainable development.

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Top 5 Community Tourism Projects

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Responding to the devastation in the Caribbean as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the Sandals Foundation and team members from Sandals and Beaches Resorts have helped deliver emergency relief and assessment flights plus food and water in Turks & Caicos and hundreds of cases of water to Dominica. In the Bahamas, they have worked with Hands for Hunger to deliver care packages to residents of Acklin Island. And thanks to a generous personal donation of Sandals Chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart, they’ve been able to provide brand new school supplies to 150 children from Dominica and 250 older students from Barbuda who all were evacuated to sister island Antigua. Read more .

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Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority awards grants for regenerative experiences and community stewardship

Several Maui County organizations are two dozen statewide beneficiaries of Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s Community Stewardship and Regenerative Experiences programs, two key initiatives under the Community Tourism Collaboratives, according to an announcement.

The Maui County groups receiving funds under the authority’s Community Stewardship program are:

• Haleakalā Conservancy was awarded $50,000 as the philanthropic partner of Haleakalā National Park for the last four years. It supports programs such as stargazing and other initiatives, including powered wheelchairs for visitors, that are otherwise not covered in the National Park Service budget. The Conservancy seeks to build a robust volunteer network and develop internal capacity to apply for future grants.
• Ahupuaʻa ʻO Hālawa was awarded $42,500 for preservation and protection of Hālawa Valley’s cultural and natural resources through community engagement and education. The Molokaʻi group plans to use the ʻike and funding gained through this program to use marketing and cultural education consultants to develop their website and online presence to become a greater player and steward of culturally based, regenerative programs on Molokaʻi.
• East Maui Land Restoration received $44,000 to enhance stewardship efforts and acquire necessary equipment for efforts to restore land in the vicinity of Honomanū waterfall. The group is a nonprofit organization that serves as an umbrella for Hāna Highway Regulation, a visitor education and tourism management initiative for Hāna Highway, and East Maui Farm, which focuses on rebuilding ancient taro patches at Honomanū.

The Community Stewardship program supports groups that protect and revitalize Hawaiʻi’s sacred spaces and important cultural sites. Each organization will benefit from capacity-building opportunities, including specialized workshops, professional services, and tailored consultations designed to enhance their stewardship activities.

The Maui County groups receiving funds under the authority’s Regenerative Experiences program are:

• Hāna Arts  received $20,000 for its arts and cultural education programs. Established in 1991, Hāna Arts offers a wide array of cultural and artistic programs. It seeks to enhance and expand its cultural workshop offerings at the Hāna Farmers Market. The workshops include experiences such as lei making, lauhala weaving and ulana niu (coconut frond weaving).
• KAʻEHU , located in Paukūkalo, Wailuku, KAʻEHU was awarded $25,000. It runs a program called the Community Environmental Stewardship Program. It acts as a huakaʻi for residents and visitors. With the intention of regenerating coastal ecology and Hawaiian cultural practices, this program facilitates stewardship upon the lands of the nonprofit, using the ʻauwai, loʻi kalo, māla, its green house and the shoreline of Kaʻehu Bay (and eventually its loko iʻa) to provide mālama activities on ʻāina. Integrating both the spectrum of service of the Community Environmental Stewardship Program and the intentionality of its voluntourism activities, KAʻEHU would like to expand its services to conference and convention attendees traveling to Maui.
• Mahina Farms Maui , located in ʻĪao Valley, received $25,000 to develop a transformative small-group cultural immersion experience that invites visitors to connect deeply with Native Hawaiian traditions, ʻike and ʻāina. Mahina Farms Maui is a Native Hawaiian-owned family farm nestled in ʻĪao Valley. The family’s passion lies in cultivating native and non-native plants, canoe crops and other species with specific cultural uses, honoring its ancestral knowledge and connection to the land.
• Moloka‘i Land Trust was awarded $35,500 to support a new project focused on the establishment of a yellow seeded wiliwili forest and complementary understory native vegetation to support traditional lei makers on the island. The mission of the Moloka‘i Land Trust is to protect and restore the land and natural and cultural resources of Moloka‘i. Moloka‘i Land Trust works to promote, educate and perpetuate the unique Native Hawaiian traditions and character of the island for the benefit of future generations of all Moloka‘i, particularly Native Hawaiians.

The Regenerative Experiences Program aims to develop and enhance visitor experiences that are deeply rooted in the principles of regenerative tourism. By participating in this program, organizations will create market-ready activities that foster reciprocal relationships between residents and visitors, ensuring that the benefits of tourism are shared by all.

A 2024 technical needs assessment completed by HTA in partnership with Kilohana by the Council of Native Hawaiian Advancement revealed key capacity-building activities that the authority could focus on to advance a regenerative tourism model for Hawaiʻi.

Following a highly competitive application and rigorous evaluation process, 24 organizations have been chosen to participate in these transformative capacity-building programs aimed at fostering regenerative tourism and preserving Hawaiʻi’s cultural and natural resources.

“The selection of these remarkable organizations marks a significant step forward in our efforts to create a more regenerative and culturally respectful tourism model in Hawaiʻi,” said authority board Chair Mufi Hannemann. “These cohort programs will empower our community partners to expand their invaluable work, ensuring that our islands’ cultural and natural resources are preserved and enriched for future generations.”

“We are thrilled to support these organizations as they lead Hawaiʻi’s transition to a regenerative model of tourism,” said Daniel Nāhoʻopiʻi, the authority’s interim president and chief executive officer. “The diverse range of organizations and projects that will receive capacity-building training and technical assistance through these programs highlight the innovative approaches being taken across the islands to mālama ʻāina and create meaningful visitor experiences.”

All funded projects are expected to be completed by Dec. 1.

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The Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) has unlocked over £60m for key tourism and regeneration projects, with significant progress on six projects and another planned by summer 2025. These initiatives aim to enhance visitor experiences and stimulate economic growth in Northern Ireland.

As visitors continue to flock to the Belfast Region this summer, behind the scenes, significant progress is being made on transformative tourism and regeneration projects that will attract new tourists to the region who stay longer and spend more.

Over £60m of Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) investment has been unlocked for three significant tourism projects with the signing of Contracts for Funding for The Gobbins Phase 2, The Mourne Mountains Gateway Project, and Destination Royal Hillsborough. The Belfast Region City Deal has committed £210m in total towards seven key tourism and regeneration projects which will secure investment of around £350 million across the region. Contracts for Funding have now been agreed for six of these projects, with the last Contract for Funding for Belfast Stories expected in summer 2025.

Economy Minister Conor Murphy MLA said: “I am committed to accelerating the delivery of the City and Growth Deal programme so it is great to see these ambitious and exciting tourism projects move closer to fruition.  These projects will directly contribute to my economic vision for the north, particularly creating good jobs and achieving regional balance.  My officials will continue to build on the strong working relationship with the Councils, Belfast Region City Deal and Tourism NI to ensure that the tourism and regeneration projects deliver for the local economy.”

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA, said: “Regenerating our towns and cities is a key objective of my department and I am delighted to see the progress made within the Tourism and Regeneration pillar of the Belfast Region City Deal. These projects provide significant investment to help shape our communities, create a significant number of jobs and provide long term economic benefits for the wider Belfast Region.”

Speaking on behalf of the Belfast Region City Deal partners, Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Micky Murray said: “It’s really heartening to see momentum building on the tourism and regeneration elements of the Belfast Region City Deal programme of investment.

“Tourism is such a key strength for us, and one of the region’s highest growth sectors, so it’s fantastic to see so much progress resulting from the major collaborative effort between local councils, government departments and private sector partners. The Belfast Region City Deal is delivering a decade of opportunities and improving quality of life here.”

David Burns , Chief Executive Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and Chair of Belfast Region City Deal’s Tourism and Regeneration Advisory Board said: “The Belfast Region City Deal programme of investment is a new and more impactful way of partnership working that is not only creating exciting new visitor experiences and regenerating our towns and cities across the region, but also delivering real opportunities for people living and working here. That’s thanks to the partners’ shared vision and commitment to boost our economy in an inclusive way to ensure that this investment benefits every section of our society.”

John McGrillen , Chief Executive, Tourism Northern Ireland, said: “Tourism Northern Ireland is delighted to see these milestones being reached on this range of important Belfast Region City Deal tourism investments. Not only will these ‘must-see’ anchor visitor attractions and experiences encourage our domestic and international visitors to stay longer and spend more, they’ll also create more jobs and opportunities for residents; bringing greater inclusive economic and social benefits to the city and region.  

“We’ll continue to work closely with our Belfast Region City Deal partners to further develop these ambitious projects so that we can maximise the returns for the region.”  

  Following confirmation of a £30m Belfast Region City Deal Contract for Funding by the Department for the Economy, an expert integrated consultancy team led by ARUP and made up of TODD Architects, Gleeds, and Tandem Design has been appointed to deliver the Mourne Mountains Gateway Project visitor experience. The project will deliver a world-class visitor centre at the Thomas Quarry site in the Mourne Mountains, and a gondola experience, which will improve accessibility, allowing people to travel sustainably and efficiently from Donard Park to the visitor centre. The design team’s combined wealth of knowledge and expertise will help deliver an inclusive, exemplary project that respects and complements the Mourne Mountains’ natural beauty.

In Newry city centre, £8m BRCD investment will complement a planned new Civic and Regional Hub and a Theatre and Conference Centre, by delivering improvements to the public realm and supporting delivery of Grade A office space.

Meanwhile, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s investment in Royal Hillsborough continues with £20m secured through Belfast Region City Deal. Working closely with Historic Royal Palaces to build on the recent investment in Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, BRCD funding will create a ‘whole village heritage tourism experience’ aimed at attracting more ‘out of state’ visitors to Northern Ireland.

Delivery of Phase II of The Gobbins has also taken a major step forward with the Contract for Funding being signed for £12.6m BRCD investment in a series of exciting upgrades for one of Northern Ireland’s most popular Causeway Coastal Route visitor attractions.

Hood McGowan Kirk have been appointed as the design team to progress the ambitious plans which include a spectacular ingress structure standing in excess of 60m tall, a state-of-the-art virtual reality experience, upgrades to the clifftop path, the development of a new Welcome Hub, and improved visitor features.

Carrickfergus will also benefit from a £26.4m BRCD investment, enhancing its historical appeal, boosting economic growth, and creating over 150 jobs in attractions, along with more than 140 construction jobs during the project.

With the help of leading design, architectural and engineering specialists McAdam Design , Carrickfergus Castle and its walls will be restored and enhanced, whilst the Town Hall, civic centre and courtyard will be refurbished and high-quality public realm created, preserving the town’s rich history, and making it more accessible and appealing to both residents and visitors.

Community groups and residents are invited to view in-progress proposals and provide valuable input at a workshop at 4pm on Wednesday 28 August in Carrickfergus Civic Centre.

The landmark Belfast Stories project at the Bank of Ireland site on Royal Avenue – a unique visitor experience, public space, and creative hub set to open by 2030, has now moved into the ‘Concept Design’ phase.

Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), supported by Barker Langham in the role of Curator and Interpretation Planner, have been appointed to deliver the Interpretive Masterplan and Concept Design for the visitor attraction element. Oslo-based, Snøhetta, and Belfast-based TODD Architects are working as the integrated design team for Belfast Stories.

The £40m BRCD investment in Bangor Waterfront redevelopment is set to return the city to a ‘destination of choice’, through regeneration of key assets and creation of high-quality public spaces which enhance the town and reconnect the city with the sea. This investment will be complemented by three unique bronze-cast artworks by local artist Colin Davidson: a 6-metre-tall set of hands entitled ‘Hope Returning’, and two smaller located at Pickie Park and Eisenhower Pier, including QR codes linking people to information and stories of the area.

Ten tech innovation companies and entrepreneurs have also been awarded funding from the BRCD Augment the City competition to work with the region’s leading tourism organisations, exploring how immersive technology can be used in innovative ways to encourage local people to create and share their individual stories. This will help to inform the design of the new Belfast Region City Deal visitor attractions across the region.

Theodore Koumelis

Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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THE BASICS:

UTC time zone +7, MSC +4 City telephone code for local calls 383 Currency: Ruble Average winter temperature: -18…-22 C Average summer temperature: +20…+22C The main landmarks, parks, theaters and the main streets of the city are on the right bank of the Ob. The main streets of Novosibirsk are Lenina st., Vokzalnaya st., Sovetskaya st. and Krasnyy Prospekt.

  Tourism Month 2024

​Tourism Month is celebrated annually in September to promote domestic travel, showcase the country's diverse tourism offerings, and to highlight the sector's significant contribution to the South African economy.

Tourism Month festivities are held throughout the country highlight the plethora of tourism offerings in our nine provinces. The festivities also provide a platform for the sector to share its affordable travel deals to inspire South Africans to explore the country in its entirety from the coastal regions to small towns, villages and dorpies.   

World Tourism Day (WTD) is celebrated globally on 27 September as declared by UN Tourism. The day affords the global tourism community an opportunity to reflect and commemorate its milestones in relation to the fulfilment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 2024 World Tourism Day will be celebrated in the Northern Cape Province under the localised theme Tourism and Peace – 30 years of connecting People to Places and Cultures. The event will be a celebration of our diverse cultural and historical heritage that continues to foster peace in South Africa, making the country a preferred holiday destination.

TOURISM MONTH EVENTS:

TOURISM MONTH MEDIA LAUNCH:

Date:       Tuesday, 20 August 2024  

Venue:   Kimberley- Northern Cape Province  

Time:      11:00 - 14:30

SHO'T LEFT TRAVEL WEEK:

Date:       02 – 08 September 2024  

Link:       https://shotleft.co.za

WORLD TOURISM DAY CELEBRATION:

The Department in collaboration with SA Tourism, the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, and its marketing agency the Northern Cape Tourism Authority will host the World Tourism Day Celebrations on 27 September 2024. 

Date:        Friday, 27 September  2024  

Venue:   Carnarvon - Northern Cape Province

Time:       11:00 - 14:30

​Tourism Month Provincial calendar of events -  Click here

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Novosibirsk

Novosibirsk tourist information and tourism, (novosibirsk, siberia, russia), novosibirsk tourist information and tourism: top sights, more novosibirsk information / fast facts and orientation.

• Country: Russia (Russian Federation)
• Location: Novosibirsk Oblast region / Southern Siberia
• Status: city / capital of Siberia
• Area: approximately 193 square miles / 500 square kilometres
• Population: approximately 1.5 million
• Language: Russian
• Currency: Russian Ruble (RUR)
• Time zone: UTC / GMT +3
• Country dialing code: +7
• Telephone area code: 383
• Average daily Novosibirsk January temperature: -14°C / 7°F
• Average daily Novosibirsk July temperature: 25°C / 77°F

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37 Facts About Novosibirsk

Written by Adelice Lindemann

Modified & Updated: 25 Jun 2024

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

Novosibirsk, often referred to as the “Capital of Siberia,” is a vibrant and dynamic city located in southwestern Russia. With a population exceeding 1.5 million residents, it is the third most populous city in Russia and serves as the administrative center of the Novosibirsk Oblast.

Nestled along the banks of the Ob River, Novosibirsk is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, scientific advancements, and picturesque landscapes. As the largest city in Siberia, it offers a perfect blend of modern and traditional attractions, making it a fascinating destination for both locals and tourists.

In this article, we will delve into 37 interesting facts about Novosibirsk, shedding light on its history, architecture, natural wonders, and cultural significance. Whether you are planning a visit or simply curious about this intriguing city, these facts will give you a deeper understanding of what Novosibirsk has to offer.

Key Takeaways:

• Novosibirsk, the “Capital of Siberia,” is a vibrant city with a rich cultural scene, stunning natural landscapes, and a strong sense of community, offering a high quality of life for its residents.
• From being a major industrial and transportation hub to hosting world-class cultural institutions and scientific research centers, Novosibirsk is a dynamic city with a diverse culinary scene and a thriving IT and tech industry.

Novosibirsk is the third-largest city in Russia.

Situated in southwestern Siberia, Novosibirsk has a population of over 1.6 million people, making it one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the country.

The city was founded in 1893.

Novosibirsk was established as a railway junction on the Trans-Siberian Railway, playing a significant role in the development of Siberia.

It is known as the “Capital of Siberia”.

Due to its economic and cultural significance, Novosibirsk is often referred to as the capital of Siberia.

Novosibirsk is a major industrial center.

The city is home to a wide range of industries, including machinery manufacturing, chemical production, energy, and metallurgy .

It is famous for its scientific and research institutions.

Novosibirsk hosts several renowned scientific and research institutions, contributing to advancements in various fields including nuclear physics, chemistry, and biotechnology.

The Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre is one of the largest in Russia.

This iconic cultural institution showcases world-class ballet and opera performances and is a must-visit for art enthusiasts visiting the city .

The city has a vibrant theater scene.

Novosibirsk boasts numerous theaters, showcasing a wide variety of performances from traditional plays to experimental productions.

Novosibirsk is a major transportation hub.

Thanks to its strategic location on the Trans-Siberian Railway, the city serves as a crucial transportation hub connecting Siberia with other regions of Russia .

The Ob River flows through Novosibirsk.

The majestic Ob River adds to the city’s natural beauty and provides opportunities for recreational activities such as boating and fishing.

Novosibirsk is known for its harsh winter climate.

With temperatures dropping well below freezing in winter, the city experiences a true Siberian winter with snowy landscapes.

The Novosibirsk Zoo is one of the largest and oldest in Russia.

Home to a wide variety of animal species, including rare and endangered ones, the Novosibirsk Zoo attracts visitors from near and far.

Novosibirsk is a center for academic excellence.

The city is home to Novosibirsk State University, one of the top universities in Russia, renowned for its research and education programs.

The Novosibirsk Metro is the newest metro system in Russia.

Opened in 1985, the Novosibirsk Metro provides efficient transportation for residents and visitors alike.

Novosibirsk is surrounded by picturesque nature.

Surrounded by stunning landscapes, including the Altai Mountains and the Novosibirsk Reservoir, the city offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities.

The Novosibirsk State Circus is famous for its performances.

Showcasing talented acrobats , clowns, and animal acts, the Novosibirsk State Circus offers entertaining shows for all ages.

Novosibirsk is home to a thriving art scene.

The city is dotted with art galleries, showcasing the works of local and international artists .

Novosibirsk has a diverse culinary scene.

From traditional Russian cuisine to international flavors, the city offers a wide range of dining options to satisfy all taste buds.

The Novosibirsk State Museum of Local History is a treasure trove of historical artifacts.

Exploring the museum gives visitors an insight into the rich history and culture of the region.

Novosibirsk is known for its vibrant nightlife.

The city is home to numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues, ensuring a lively atmosphere after dark.

Novosibirsk has a strong ice hockey tradition.

Ice hockey is a popular sport in the city, with local teams competing in national and international tournaments.

The Novosibirsk State Philharmonic Hall hosts world-class musical performances.

Music lovers can enjoy classical concerts and symphony orchestra performances in this renowned venue.

Novosibirsk is home to the Akademgorodok, a scientific research town.

Akademgorodok is a unique scientific community located near Novosibirsk, housing numerous research institutes and academic organizations.

Novosibirsk has a unique blend of architectural styles.

The city features a mix of Soviet-era buildings, modern skyscrapers, and historic structures, creating an eclectic cityscape.

Novosibirsk is an important center for ballet training and education.

The city’s ballet schools and academies attract aspiring dancers from across Russia and abroad.

Novosibirsk is a gateway to the stunning Altai Mountains.

Located nearby, the Altai Mountains offer breathtaking landscapes, hiking trails, and opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Novosibirsk hosts various cultural festivals throughout the year.

From music and theater festivals to art exhibitions, the city’s cultural calendar is always packed with exciting events.

Novosibirsk is a green city with numerous parks and gardens.

Residents and visitors can enjoy the beauty of nature in the city’s well-maintained parks and botanical gardens.

Novosibirsk is a center for technology and innovation.

The city is home to several technology parks and innovation centers, fostering the development of cutting-edge technologies.

Novosibirsk has a strong sense of community.

The residents of Novosibirsk are known for their hospitality and friendly nature, making visitors feel welcome.

Novosibirsk is a paradise for shopping enthusiasts.

The city is dotted with shopping malls, boutiques, and markets, offering a wide range of shopping options.

Novosibirsk has a rich literary heritage.

The city has been home to many famous Russian writers and poets, and their works are celebrated in literary circles.

Novosibirsk is a popular destination for medical tourism.

The city is known for its advanced medical facilities and expertise, attracting patients from around the world.

Novosibirsk has a well-developed public transportation system.

With buses, trams, trolleybuses, and the metro, getting around the city is convenient and efficient.

Novosibirsk is a city of sport.

The city has a strong sports culture, with numerous sports facilities and opportunities for athletic activities .

Novosibirsk has a thriving IT and tech industry.

The city is home to numerous IT companies and startups, contributing to the development of the digital economy.

Novosibirsk celebrates its anniversary every year on July 12th.

The city comes alive with festivities, including concerts, fireworks, and cultural events, to commemorate its foundation.

Novosibirsk offers a high quality of life.

With its excellent educational and healthcare systems, cultural amenities, and vibrant community, Novosibirsk provides a great living environment for its residents.

Novosibirsk is a fascinating city filled with rich history, stunning architecture, and a vibrant cultural scene. From its origins as a small village to becoming the third-largest city in Russia, Novosibirsk has emerged as a major economic and cultural hub in Siberia . With its world-class universities, theaters, museums, and natural attractions, Novosibirsk offers a myriad of experiences for visitors.

Whether you’re exploring the impressive Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater, strolling along the picturesque banks of the Ob River, or immersing yourself in the city’s scientific and technological achievements at the Akademgorodok, Novosibirsk has something for everyone.

From its iconic landmarks such as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to its vibrant festivals like the International Jazz Festival , Novosibirsk has a unique charm that will captivate any traveler. So, make sure to include Novosibirsk in your travel itinerary and discover the hidden gems of this remarkable city.

Q: What is the population of Novosibirsk?

A: As of 2021, the estimated population of Novosibirsk is around 1.6 million people.

Q: Is Novosibirsk a safe city to visit?

A: Novosibirsk is generally considered a safe city for tourists. However, it is always recommended to take standard precautions such as avoiding unfamiliar areas at night and keeping your belongings secure.

Q: What is the best time to visit Novosibirsk?

A: The best time to visit Novosibirsk is during the summer months of June to September when the weather is pleasant and suitable for outdoor activities. However, if you enjoy the winter chill and snow, visiting during the winter season can also be a unique experience.

Q: Are there any interesting cultural events in Novosibirsk?

A: Yes, Novosibirsk is known for its vibrant cultural scene. The city hosts various festivals throughout the year, including the International Jazz Festival, Novosibirsk International Film Festival, and the Siberian Ice March Festival.

Q: Can I visit Novosibirsk without knowing Russian?

A: While knowing some basic Russian phrases can be helpful, many establishments in Novosibirsk, especially tourist areas, have English signage and staff who can communicate in English. However, learning a few essential Russian phrases can enhance your travel experience.

Novosibirsk's captivating history and vibrant culture make it a must-visit destination for any traveler. From its humble beginnings as a small settlement to its current status as Russia's third-largest city, Novosibirsk has a story worth exploring. If you're a sports enthusiast, don't miss the opportunity to learn more about the city's beloved football club , FC Sibir Novosibirsk. With its rich heritage and passionate fan base, the club has become an integral part of Novosibirsk's identity.

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