The Effectiveness of Community-Based Tourism - Essay Example

?Evaluate the effectiveness of community based tourism Introduction One of the key challenges of firms operating in the tourism industry is the effective management of the challenges set because of the global economic pressures. In fact, tourism, like all other industrial sectors, has been highly affected by the recession. A series of measures has been developed by firms operating in the particular industry aiming to control the effects of crisis on their operations; these activities have been also proved valuable for the achievement of other benefits, the most common of which is the promotion of sustainability. Current paper focuses on a particular form of tourism, the community based tourism as developed in countries internationally. Agencies and the local communities have extensively supported the particular type of tourism; however, its effectiveness is often doubted. The level of effectiveness of community-based tourism worldwide is the main subject of this paper; reference is also made to issues related to the above subject – as the types and the scope of community based tourism but also the challenges that this form of tourism faces in countries globally. 2. Community based tourism – main aspects In order to identify and evaluate the effectiveness of community based tourism it would be necessary to understand primarily the context of this form of tourism – a form that is standardized internationally. In accordance with a relevant report, the community-based tourism can be characterized as ‘the form of tourism in which local residents (often rural, poor and economically marginalised) invite tourists to visit their communities with the provision of overnight accommodation’ (Responsible Travel, 2011). In accordance with the above description, the specific form of tourism has certain requirements: a) it is necessary that people in the local community have the willingness to participate in the development of such scheme; referring not only to the consent of the locals but also to their active participation, b) on the other hand, it is not necessary for luxury services or facilities to be available to the visitors; however, there are certain requirements that need to be met, for instance access to a telephone line (not necessarily separately for each visitor, a community-based telephone would be adequate) but also an accommodation that has certain standards (meaning the conditions of living that do not put the health of the visitors in risk), c) travelers need to be aware of the challenges of the particular form of tourism; in the context of community-based tourism visitors are expected to support people in the local community; it is meant that visitors will be possibly asked to be involved in tasks related to ‘the protection of the environment or of the cultural heritage’ (Sustainable Tourism, 2001). The relationship between the community-based tourism and specific social obligations, mostly the protection of the environment is emphasized in the study of Byrd (2007) who noted that ‘sustainability has become an important topic and concept in relation to tourism planning and development’ (Byrd 2007, 6); however, the participation of the stakeholders in the relevant projects is set by Byrd as a prerequisite for their success (Byrd 2007). The concept of the community-based tourism is explained in the literature using various approaches; in accordance with Beeton (2006) the community-based tourism focuses on ‘the creation of a more sustainable tourism industry, focusing on the host community in terms of planning and maintaining tourism development’ (Beeton 3006, 50). On the other hand, Spenceley (2008) refers to the community – based tourism as a tool for promoting sustainability but also ‘for achieving various socio-economic benefits’ (Spenceley 2008, 310) – it is assumed that reference is made to the economic developing of the local communities that support the relevant activities. From another point of view, Moscardo (2008) note that the development of the community-based tourism has been resulted because of the understanding of ‘the need for more resident-responsive tourism’ (Moscardo 2008, 60); in accordance with the above view, community-based tourism is a mode of tourism serving not just sustainable and economic but also important social needs. 3. Effectiveness of community based tourism, challenges and implications – Case studies Despite the fact that the community-based tourism has been proved to be quite valuable for communities worldwide – especially the poorest ones – still it has not been given the attention required. This fact results not because of the lack of willingness of local communities to cooperate for the development of these schemes but mostly because of the lack of effective mechanisms for the promotion and the support of this form of tourism. Moreover, it seems that visitors are not be, in most cases, aware of the actual role and needs of the specific form of tourism. The above issues have been made clear in the literature where the challenges related to the community-based tourism have been critically analyzed. The relevant studies are presented below aiming to highlight the current level of effectiveness of community-based tourism, the causes of potential failures and the measures available in order for the specific mode of tourism to become more effective. It should be noted that in the cases presented below the development of community based tourism is initiated either directly or indirectly; in other words, even in tourism schemes which are not strictly characterized as community-based, there are the characteristics of community-based tourism since the participation of the local community is pursued and promoted. Yassin et al. (2011) examined the aspects and the challenges of Moroccan tourism. Through their study, important assumptions can be developed in regard to the causes of failures of projects related to the tourism industry. In the case of Morocco, it has been revealed that the particular country failed to develop its tourism industry at the same level with its competitors. The failure to identify markets that are capable to respond to the financial requirements of such projects (Yassin et al 2011) was proved to be the main reason for this outcome. It is assumed that in the case of the community based tourism the above country would have to face similar problems. As noted above, the particular type of tourism has specific requirements that need to be met. Otherwise, the relevant initiatives would have no chance to be completed successfully. On the other hand, the Republic of Ecuador adopted a different approach regarding the promotion of sustainable tourism. The important role of the specific mode of tourism in the development of the local economy has been made clear by the local authorities. A particular area of the country, the Amazon rainforest region, has been chosen for developing community – based tourism. The research developed by Reyes on the above case revealed that the specific project has been proved to be effective mostly because of ‘the adoption of policies and the implementation of a strategic plan that aims at optimizing development based on the natural, ecological, and cultural wealth of the region’ (Reyes 2010, 163). The potential benefits of the community-based tourism have led the Portuguese Government to develop a relevant community – based tourism scheme, known as ‘the Douro Valley Tourism Plan (DVTP)’ (Fazenda et al 2010, 428). The above plan, with the support of the government, has been characterized by the ‘the close and active involvement of the stakeholders’ ’ (Fazenda et al 2010, 428) – referring not just to the state but, mostly, to the local communities and the visitors. After examining the progress of the above scheme, Fazenda et al. (2010) came to the conclusion that the specific project can be characterized as quite successful mostly for the following reason: by achieving the active participation of stakeholders in the development of the various phases of this project, the Portuguese government managed to attract the investment required for covering the project’s various costs – including its promotion in the international market. On the other hand, the government of Bolivia, supported the development of sustainable tourism across the country – emphasis was made in the region of the Amazon rainforest – in order to achieve the following two targets: ‘to protect the Bolivian Amazon and to realize its “Living Well” vision’ (Cortez 2010, 136). Cortez (2010) has studied the relevant efforts; it has been revealed that the effectiveness of sustainable tourism in Bolivia has been based on the following two facts: the strong support of the government (and not so much the support of the markets) and the high involvement of the local communities (Cortez 2010). The value of community-based tourism in a particular country can have different aspects; one of these aspects is developed in the study of Sheridan et al. (2009); in the above study reference is made to the community-based tourism developed in ‘the islands of Tenerife and La Palma’ (Sheridan et al 2009, 291) for the promotion of local culture – especially of the wineries – related traditions of the local communities. After examining the terms of these schemes in the particular region – using ‘face-to-face interviews’ (Sheridan et al 2009, 291) – the above researchers came to the conclusion that the community-based projects developed in the specific area have been quite effective for the following reason: the support of the local community has been extremely high; moreover, the willingness of the visitors to be involved in the relevant activities has been significant (Sheridan et al 2009). Another aspect of the community-based tourism is revealed through the study of Collison et al. (2010); the above study focuses on the examination of the community – based tourism projects developed in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. It is noted that these projects, which focus on the protection of the country’s cultural heritage, are not adequately supported – no reference is made to an existing governmental support scheme regarding these projects. It is concluded that it is the lack of adequate support that has led the community-based tourism in the specific country to a failure – referring to the achievement of the targets set by its planners. Moreover, it seems that the limitation of the effectiveness of the community-based tourism in a particular country is not the result of the lack of adequate support but rather to the existence of different tourism policies, which are promoted instead. This issue is highlighted in the study of Foxell et al. (2010), which focus on the tourism policies developed in Malta. It is revealed that the specific country’s tourism strategies are strongly affected by the following two factors: a) the governmental oppositions to investments which cannot be paid back in the short term (as in the case of the community-based tourism) and b) the business interests – referring to the interests of specific groups of companies which are not highly interested in the development of community-based tourism since it cannot guarantee the profits that may can achieved through different tourism plans (Foxell et al 2010). As noted above, one of the key factors for the success of community-based projects has been the active involvement of the local communities; this fact has been highlighted both in the literature but also in the empirical studies developed in the specific field – as presented and critically analyzed above. However, the terms under which this involvement can be promoted are not clearly described in the studies published in the particular subject. This issue is addressed in the study of Moyle et al (2010); it is noted by the above researchers that there are various motives that can be used in order to pursue people in local communities to be involved in community – based tourism projects. This target, if it would be achieved, it would be critical for the achievement of these projects – as proved through the case studies presented above. It is suggested by Moyle (2010) that ‘apart from the economic motives, the chances for participating in the provision of a series of quality experiences’ (Moyle 2010, 96) should be used by the planners of these projects in order to pursue local people to support the relevant initiatives. On the other hand, the effectiveness of the community based scheme can be related to additional issues; even if people in the local community are willing to participate in the relevant projects, it is possible that the successful realization of the projects is prohibited or delayed because of conditions that cannot be controlled – for instance, extreme climate phenomena or problems related to the management of the relevant activities (the long term strike of the employees who work in the airline industry of a mediator country or the country of origin/ destination) (Leask et al. 2010). It is made clear that the effective development of community-based projects cannot be considered as guaranteed – even if all measures have been taken in advance. The above fact is highlighted in the study of Sijlbing (2010) where it is noted that the effective development of community-based projects can be depended not just in the existing facilities and the support provided by the stakeholders but also by factors as the existing legislation – referring to the rules that govern these activities, in the terms that these rules can introduce or impose requirements that are so difficult to be met that lead to the cancellation or the significant delays of community – based tourism schemes. 4. Conclusion The development of community based tourism worldwide has been related with a series of benefits for the local communities; among these benefits, those that could be characterized as most important are the following ones: a) the protection of the natural environment and b) the financial support of the local communities – which results to the improvement of their living conditions – in many cases, not at the level expected. In any case, the success of community-based schemes has been related to a series of factors, including the active involvement of the local government – an issue revealed through the case studies presented above and which has been also highlighted in the study of Baggio et al. (2010). However, the examination of the overall effectiveness of community – based tourism leads to the assumption that the particular type of tourism has not achieved the targets of its initiators; even if the firms operating in the tourism industry try to keep the attractiveness of the specific type of tourism at a high level, still the promotion of this type of tourism worldwide is problematic. The fact that the relevant projects have failed to meet their targets in countries where there is no involvement of the government in their promotion proves that, today, the community-based tourism has become a tool for the promotion of specific political goals. Moreover, visitors do not seem to understand their obligations – as derived from their participation in such schemes. This problem is become more intense since the local communities lack from mechanisms for the effective development of such programs – referring not so much to the quality of facilities available but rather to the cooperation/ coordination between the visitors and the communities. Under these terms, the effectiveness of community-based tourism, as currently developed internationally, can be strongly doubted. However, the elimination of problems in the specific type of tourism would be rather difficult in current market conditions; for this reason, an extensive criticism on the low level of effectiveness of community – based tourism would be avoided. References Rodolfo Baggio, Noel Scott, Chris Cooper, (2010) "Improving tourism destination governance: a complexity science approach", Tourism Review, Vol. 65 Iss: 4, pp.51 – 60 Beeton, S. 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