Community Based Ecotourism in India: Development Process

Introduction

Community based Ecotourism is commonly used to describe the type of tourism that, recognizing the significant social, environmental and economic impacts tourism can have, primarily focuses on tourism's benefits to the local community¹. The involvement and participation of community in the ecotourism activities generates direct and indirect employment in the form of eco-guides, boatmen, naturalists, unskilled labour, cooks, caterers, receptionists, helpers for upkeep of camping sites and in various other jobs.

Levels of community involvement:

The community can be involved in the CBET projects at various levels. This may be in the form of generating employment or involving them in decision making or giving them complete ownership of the CBET projects. The following levels have been derived by the team of Equations in their report of Community involvement of Ecotourism in Madhya Pradesh:

a) Tokenism – employing members of the community as drivers, tour guides, etc.

b) Informing – where communities are informed about the ecotourism development being planned and are involved through employment in the ecotourism activities.

c) Consulting – where the communities are consulted with but where the aspirations of the community might or might not be addressed. In this instance the community would have the space to influence decisions while not being a formal part of the decision making process.

d) Collaborating – where communities are seen as equal partners in the ecotourism development planned and are formally part of the decision making process. The community would then have control over the impacts as well as the benefits of ecotourism.

e) Ownership – where the community owns the enterprise, which becomes the capital of the community. Where the place, nature, forms, the communities decide all stakeholders and all others involved are supporters of the enterprise.

BENEFITS OF CBET

CBET has both tangible and intangible benefits not only for the tourism industry, biodiversity and local community but also for the entire human community. Generating respect for nature & awareness about ecological conservation, enhancing bio-diversity conservation, employment generation for rural youth in project villages, social enlistment / empowerment of rural weaker section, specially the rural women through self help group (SHGs), promotion of rural handicraft & technology and cultural and architectural heritage are some of the visible benefits. Besides these there are some intangible benefits including national integration through cultural exchange, mutual understanding, social harmony and enhancing quality of life.

CBET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

The community based ecotourism development process needs to be implemented though a well-defined and planned process. The following steps may be followed:

a. Identify a region / village offering natural beauty and a community in need

b. Meet with community / village heads to discuss the project.

c. Hold community meeting to introduce the project.

d. Get community’s suggestions and approval on the project

e. Design the work plan and seek funding

f. Establish a transparent work and profit distribution system

g. Identify key performers and start the project on ground

h. Start trainings –guide & interpreter, soft skills and hospitality, etc

i. Implement the marketing strategy (as the project progresses)

j. Monitoring & evaluation

k. Follow-up

CBET projects take time to yield profits and therefore needs a long-term effort including following up on monitoring and evaluation, as well as sustainable marketing, to ensure that the CBET progresses. Also replicating a successful CBET project to another location may need a lot of time. Thus, establishing a network which helps exchanging knowledge will be required. It will show the development of the different communities and promote good practices as well. The members of a network can join together in marketing or addressing rules such as policies or laws that will have an impact on the community. The CBET may then further be taken from community to regional to national level. It would then be easier to reach a proper institutional framework and financial support. Developing CBET at a regional or national level will strengthen community networks and mobilize them to act on public policies. The small communities may be motivated to work together and deal with their common problems such as weak marketing or low authority².

References:

1. Trent B Douglas, 'Developing community based ecotourism', from CECD – Community ecotourism Consulting & Development Inc.

2. Tuffin Bill, 'Community based ecotourism & the Public Private Partnership: Connecting communities with the global tourism industry', Community Development Resource Handbook, Published by GTZ  for development workers in Laos, 2006 http://www.ecotourism-consultant.com/Bill%20Tuffin%20web.pdf