Community Based Tourism and its Impacts
Author: Gloria Chiza
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Community Based Tourism and its Impacts.
Key words: Community Based Tourism, Tourism Development, Community Participation
There is no doubt that tourism is among the leading social and economic phenomena of the modern times. Ever since in the 1950's over 25 million international tourists arrivals were recorded. (Sharpley and Telfer 2002). There are lots of definitions for tourism and tourists however, the writers define tourism as the movement or practice that supposedly acts as a mechanism of development.
People are motivated to travel by various reasons, to some may be to escape from the normal daily life whereby others it could be for medical or health reasons. All these and other reasons shape the tourism preferences of tourists. This paper however concentrate on the community based tourism and the impacts it brings.
By definition as defined by Mann (2000) a community based tour means tours which is owned and run entirely by local communities. Sharpley and Telfer (2002) explain that community based tourism is more of a sustainable form of development than mass tourism since it gives the community an opportunity to escape from hegemonic grasp of tour operators at the national level. More explanations are given that the type of tourism is about empowerment and developing the industry in accord with the desires and goals of host communities in such a way that is satisfactory to them, seeking to uphold the community's economy rather than the others and is not damaging to their way of life, traditions, or the day to day conveniences. There has been a discussion on tourism as a community industry, whereby Murphy (1985) explains that looking at the fact of where the tourism industry comes from and where it is going linking with the tourism preferences, the writer explains that planning for tourism has transformed and advanced alongside with the industry from the time of the Second World War. It has built-up from a site oriented and physical emphasis into a more local and system approach. Part of the system advances consists of a management concept in recognition of visitor and resident views and their attitude on a successful travel experience. The process is seemingly continuing as tourism expansion enters a new phase with diverse demands and priorities.
For a long time, tourists have been motivated to use package holidays whereby most of the income generated from the tourism activities and services offered such as accommodation, food and beverages benefits a few individuals. Most of the hotels or service providers in developing destinations are owned by individuals who do not originate from the place. Therefore the generated money goes to other places rather than remaining in the destination. In recent days, there has been a growth a community based tourism which helps the local community to develop from the tourism development taking place within their societies. Tourists taking part in the community based tourism normally travel to destinations where they live within the local residential areas or guest houses which are owned by the locals, eat local food and enjoy what the destination has to offer while the paid money remains in the community. Murphy (1995) explains that with the tourism industry entering a maturity stage, there has been a retard in growth rates which may be due to the recession but as well the changing demographic profiles as well as the preferences of the consumers. More tourists anticipate and require more due to their experiences as well as availability of many destinations and experiences which they choose from.
Moreover it has both negative and positive impacts including allowing local communities to participate with pride and dignity of their heritage. Also it helps to generate income to the locals as well as give them access to better facilities such as education, health, good infrastructure and much more. Not only that but also it helps tourists to get out of the normal daily routine. Most tourists as explained earlier preferred to go on luxury package holidays which in most cases have the same lifestyle. Ever since the development of community based tourism tourists have shown interests of learning new cultures which is more practised by this kind of tourism because of the close contact and relationship between the local community and the tourists. On the other hand a major issue is that most of the local community are strained to change in order to adopt with the tourism industry flow hence a feeling of being forced without their consent.
In conclusion, Community Based Tourism has been a great motivation for the development of local communities. However, the authorities should improve the community's participation to reduce the negative impacts and increase the positive ones.
References:
Mann, M. (2000) The Community Tourism Guide. UK: Earthscan Publications Ltd
Murphy, P, (1985) Tourism, A Community Approach. London: Routledge
Sharpley, R and Telfer, D.J (2002) Tourism and Development. Concepts and Issues. England: Channel View Publications
Key words: Community Based Tourism, Tourism Development, Community Participation
There is no doubt that tourism is among the leading social and economic phenomena of the modern times. Ever since in the 1950's over 25 million international tourists arrivals were recorded. (Sharpley and Telfer 2002). There are lots of definitions for tourism and tourists however, the writers define tourism as the movement or practice that supposedly acts as a mechanism of development.
People are motivated to travel by various reasons, to some may be to escape from the normal daily life whereby others it could be for medical or health reasons. All these and other reasons shape the tourism preferences of tourists. This paper however concentrate on the community based tourism and the impacts it brings.
By definition as defined by Mann (2000) a community based tour means tours which is owned and run entirely by local communities. Sharpley and Telfer (2002) explain that community based tourism is more of a sustainable form of development than mass tourism since it gives the community an opportunity to escape from hegemonic grasp of tour operators at the national level. More explanations are given that the type of tourism is about empowerment and developing the industry in accord with the desires and goals of host communities in such a way that is satisfactory to them, seeking to uphold the community's economy rather than the others and is not damaging to their way of life, traditions, or the day to day conveniences. There has been a discussion on tourism as a community industry, whereby Murphy (1985) explains that looking at the fact of where the tourism industry comes from and where it is going linking with the tourism preferences, the writer explains that planning for tourism has transformed and advanced alongside with the industry from the time of the Second World War. It has built-up from a site oriented and physical emphasis into a more local and system approach. Part of the system advances consists of a management concept in recognition of visitor and resident views and their attitude on a successful travel experience. The process is seemingly continuing as tourism expansion enters a new phase with diverse demands and priorities.
For a long time, tourists have been motivated to use package holidays whereby most of the income generated from the tourism activities and services offered such as accommodation, food and beverages benefits a few individuals. Most of the hotels or service providers in developing destinations are owned by individuals who do not originate from the place. Therefore the generated money goes to other places rather than remaining in the destination. In recent days, there has been a growth a community based tourism which helps the local community to develop from the tourism development taking place within their societies. Tourists taking part in the community based tourism normally travel to destinations where they live within the local residential areas or guest houses which are owned by the locals, eat local food and enjoy what the destination has to offer while the paid money remains in the community. Murphy (1995) explains that with the tourism industry entering a maturity stage, there has been a retard in growth rates which may be due to the recession but as well the changing demographic profiles as well as the preferences of the consumers. More tourists anticipate and require more due to their experiences as well as availability of many destinations and experiences which they choose from.
Moreover it has both negative and positive impacts including allowing local communities to participate with pride and dignity of their heritage. Also it helps to generate income to the locals as well as give them access to better facilities such as education, health, good infrastructure and much more. Not only that but also it helps tourists to get out of the normal daily routine. Most tourists as explained earlier preferred to go on luxury package holidays which in most cases have the same lifestyle. Ever since the development of community based tourism tourists have shown interests of learning new cultures which is more practised by this kind of tourism because of the close contact and relationship between the local community and the tourists. On the other hand a major issue is that most of the local community are strained to change in order to adopt with the tourism industry flow hence a feeling of being forced without their consent.
In conclusion, Community Based Tourism has been a great motivation for the development of local communities. However, the authorities should improve the community's participation to reduce the negative impacts and increase the positive ones.
References:
Mann, M. (2000) The Community Tourism Guide. UK: Earthscan Publications Ltd
Murphy, P, (1985) Tourism, A Community Approach. London: Routledge
Sharpley, R and Telfer, D.J (2002) Tourism and Development. Concepts and Issues. England: Channel View Publications