Attempts to define the concept of community based tourism often find quite different words
and formulations, but always coming back to close similarities to sustainable tourism, eco
tourism or rural tourism. As a subcategory of sustainable tourism, the term is mostly used in
context with third world countries, but also other rather rural regions (Bittner, 2006).
Community based tourism aims to replace mass tourism and is supposed to make host
communities use the tourism business for self-determination and to involve local residents in
the planning process by complementing their traditional lifestyles with opportunities for
local employment and business (Addison, 1996). Therefore all tourism measures should
focus on the optimization of local economic benefits and protecting the host environment,
natural and built (Page, 2006). Implementing community based tourism, both the tourist and
the host communities should benefit and cross-cultural education and communication is, in
an ideal situation, promoted. Also preserving local traditions and developing a “public
participation program that [makes] clear to local residents the benefits and potential hazards
of the tourism industry” (Addison, 1996: 304) is necessary. Another significant fact is to
promote all-year-around tourism so that the local community does not seasonally depend on
the income of tourism. To realize this, a culturally and environmentally appropriate tourism
plan has to be developed. [...]
Table of Content
1. COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM
1.1. PRINCIPLES AND MAJOR GOALS
1.2. MAJOR THREATS
1.3. FUTURE OF COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM
2. SEASONALITY
2.1. MAIN FACTORS FOR SEASONALITY
2.2. SEASONALITY IN PERIPHERAL REGIONS
2.3. REDUCING SEASONALITY
3. SUSTAINABILITY
3.1. DOES SUSTAINABLE TOURISM EXIST?
3.2. OWN ASSESSMENT
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This report analyzes key concepts in integrated tourism planning by evaluating three major pillars: community-based development, the challenges of seasonality in peripheral regions, and the conceptual feasibility of sustainable tourism practices.
- Principles and operational goals of community-based tourism.
- Determinants of seasonality and management strategies for remote destinations.
- Critical evaluation of the sustainability paradigm in global tourism.
- Assessment of stakeholder roles and socioeconomic impacts on local populations.
Excerpt from the Book
1.2. Major Threats
Generally speaking, tourism brings employment, revenue and investment to a community. However, unlike mass tourism, community based tourism is not aimed at profit maximization but rather attends to reduce the impact of the vacation industry on the host community and its environment. Rural areas such as the Baffin Region in Canada have been without touristic action for most of their existence which has left their native population without any social interference of other cultures. Therefore it is logical that there are a few basic requirements that a community must fulfill to enable community based tourism. Major threats to the implementation of such are related to the resident’s education, attitude, experience, but also to the government’s participation and role. A lack of education or experience in tourism or business in general can lead to insufficient community involvement. While locals are often not aware of and do not understand the opportunities that tourism offers, they do not recognize the branch as a potential career choice either. Furthermore a negative attitude towards visitors and insufficient personnel training and development can cause a limited involvement. But apart from the local residents, an insufficient support by lending institutions or the government can crimp a healthy development towards community based tourism as well.
Once the introduction of the sustainable tourism system has started within a community, new threats appear. A disturbance of normal economic activities and discrepancies in the attitude towards tourism can confound a peaceful community. Moreover locals could adopt the tourist’s consumer behavior or frictions related to the allocation of limited resources over the needs of residents could occur.
Summary of Chapters
1. COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM: Discusses the integration of local residents into tourism planning to ensure economic benefits while preserving traditional lifestyles and avoiding dependency.
2. SEASONALITY: Explores natural and institutional factors driving tourism fluctuations and evaluates mitigation strategies for peripheral destinations.
3. SUSTAINABILITY: Examines the theoretical contradictions of sustainable tourism, specifically focusing on the conflicts between resource conservation and economic development.
Keywords
Community-based tourism, Seasonality, Sustainability, Peripheral regions, Baffin Region, Tourism planning, Stakeholder involvement, Socioeconomic impact, Market diversification, Tourism development, Environmental impact, Resource management, Mass tourism, Infrastructure, Global tourism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this report?
The report provides a structured overview of critical contemporary challenges in tourism, specifically focusing on community empowerment, seasonal fluctuations in remote areas, and the theoretical validity of sustainability.
What are the central themes covered in the text?
The core themes include the principles of community-based tourism, the logistical and economic impacts of seasonality, and the critique of sustainable tourism development.
What is the main research question regarding sustainable tourism?
The work questions whether sustainable tourism is truly achievable given the global structure of the industry and the inherent conflicts between economic growth and environmental preservation.
Which scientific method is utilized in this report?
The report employs a qualitative literature review and case study approach, synthesizing existing academic research to evaluate specific tourism management concepts.
What topics are analyzed in the main body?
The main body systematically evaluates the operational goals of community-led projects, the causes of off-season decline in peripheral destinations, and the limitations of implementing sustainable practices in a profit-driven market.
Which keywords define this document?
Key terms include community-based tourism, seasonality, sustainability, peripheral regions, and tourism development.
Why are peripheral regions particularly susceptible to seasonality?
Peripheral regions suffer because they are often geographically remote, lack diverse tourism infrastructure, and rely heavily on weather-dependent demand, which limits their appeal to traditional markets during winter months.
How does the author assess the future of community-based tourism?
The author views it as a significant step toward political self-determination and local economic development, though warns that it is not a "magic cure" and requires long-term commitment and careful stakeholder cooperation.
- Quote paper
- Laura Herrmann (Author), 2013, Integrated Tourism Planning. Report on Case Studies, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/277877
