Community Based Tourism (CBTs)

Although local communities (small and micro enterprises) are key providers of goods and services to the tourism sector in the region, they do not derive sufficient benefits from the development of tourism.  This can in the main be ascribed to lack of adequate involvement in the mainstream development of tourism.  This disconnect promotes environmentally and socially unsustainable tourism development based on unsound management practices.  Further, preservation/conservation and promotion of the natural, cultural and historical resources of the region becomes a major difficulty under the circumstances.

While the communities are focused on packaging products for the tourists, they are less focused on developing service-related enterprises for the industry.  While the communities want to show off their Cultures; want their understanding of the ecology of the area brought out into the picture that is portrayed of the species-rich eco-systems that form the basis of the protected areas of the region; have a story to tell and a wealth of indigenous knowledge on which to draw, the CBTs are often inaccessible and unable to increase the number of visitors to their products inevitably leading to unsustainability of their business.

For tourism to be sustainable the tourism sector needs to keep a balance between economic needs and the desire to preserve heritage.  There is need for closer liaison with sectors responsible for issues of culture and the environment while bringing communities in SADC into the mainstream tourism business so that economic benefits from tourism also accrue to the communities.

For more information on Community Based Tourism in SADC refer to: www.community-tourism-africa.com