Nicole Häusler M.A, Tourism Consultant, Berlin haeusler@mascontour

1. Nicole Häusler M.A, Tourism Consultant, Berlin haeusler@mascontour.info Community-based Tourism (CBT) – What works and what works not?

2. Since mid-1990s: • Strong orientation by NGOs, Donor Agencies and Development Cooperation towards Ecotourism & Community-based Tourism (CBT)

3. What should be the Benefits of Community-based Tourism? • Creation of direct jobs as well as additional income for the local population • Education and further training opportunities (language, service, restaurant and hotel business, guiding) • Preservation of the cultural heritage or strengthening of the cultural identity through appreciation by tourists • Strengthening of social or organisational structures within a community • Protection of local resources (e.g., no illegal tree felling, because alternative income opportunities exist; preservation of the environment as a tourist attraction) • Reduction of migration, particularly for teenagers • Improvement in the standards of living through hygiene training courses

4. Donor Agencies /Development Organisations Important keywords in the proposals: • Participation • Gender • Empowerment • Capacity Building

5. Not relevant: • Business Plan • Administration • Marketing Strategy • Product • Target Groups • Cooperation with Private Sector

6. Bolivia – 22 Protected Areas

7. Tourism in Protected Areas - Major Problems ¡ Pressure of donor agencies and communities to implement as many community tourism projects as possible (2003-2005) !

8. Bolivia - more than 60 registrated CBT-Projects • PROFIL: • A lodge + … • Near or in a protected area • Offers an “ecotourism” product • The original idea came from a NGO • It was developed within 3 up to 12 months • The investment ranges normally from US-$ 30.000 up to US$100.000 • Target group: foreign ecotourists • No market alliances with the private sector • No administrative framework (bookkeeping etc.)

9. Amboró NP - 12 CBT-Projects - ca. 4000 visitors - 93 communities - ca. 6000 qkm

18. Amboró – What went wrong? • Target Group: Young, international backpackers; …but Main visitor group: Bolivian Families • The flow of visitors is low and it is not sufficient for all CBT projects • All Projects are looking for the same market • Bad quality of services and infrastructure • Total Misunderstanding of tourism business (Rich tourists will bring the money, no service-orientated thinking) • No Marketing Efforts

19. Benefits did not come in the quantity and in the expected time

20. Some communities have taken a loan in order to finance parts of the project.

21. Result: Harm has been done to these communities!

23. Community-based Tourism in Thailand

24. Leeled Community in Southern Thailand Source: “Community based Tourism as a tool for community development and coastal resource management: A case study of Leeled Subdistrict, Surrathani province, Southern Thailand ”. Peter Richards, The Responsible Ecological Social Tours Project (REST), Thailand

25. Leeled Community in Southern Thailand • Main Targets of CBT-Project (2002-2007, eight villages): • Additional Income! • Community Development and Coastal Resource Management

26. Financial Results – Additional Income • 2005-2006: • 1,152 Tourists (average stay: 2 days/one night – Homestay) • Average Income per Household: • 12.000-15.000 Thai Baht/Month (288 EUR) • Additional Income through Tourism: 900/1200 Thai Baht/Month (21 EUR) – Average Salary: Increase of 8%

27. Leeled Community in Southern Thailand • Community Fund: • 47,275 Thai Baht (1075 EUR / 750 Pounds / 745 US-$) • Results –Community Fund: • 800 Hectares of new mangrove growth • Waste management camps in 8 villages

28. Leeled Community in Southern Thailand • Results –Community Fund: „Side Effects“: • Cleaner waterways, rubbish free • Development of local leaders • Very high sense of local pride

29. Leeled Community in Southern Thailand • Preparation Process (8 Months): Feasibility Study and Introduction of CBT to the communties • Defining the Goals of the Project like Human Resource Development, Cultural Exchange and Additional Income

30. Leeled Community in Southern Thailand • Year 2 & 3 – Field Work: • Environmental Education • Waste Management • Guide Training • Green Product Development • Local Curriculum etc. • …and Practise, Practise, Practise (Pilot Tours) • „Co-Management“ – Advisory Board on Provincial Level

31. Leeled Community in Southern Thailand • Important factor: • Strong cooperation with the private sector • 20 groups per year (6-12 pax)

32. Leeled Community in Southern Thailand • Key Factors of Sucess: • Direct cooperation with a tour operator • Cooperation with provincial professionals/officers • Long-term project (5 years) with intensive training

33. Luxury Ecoresort Vil Uyana in Sri Lanka • Creation of direct jobs

34. Jetwing Youth Development Project, Vil Uyana • Two major objectives: • To face and provide solutions for the manpower shortage in Jetwing Hotels and the Sri Lanka Hotel Industry, in general. • To help resolve the problem of youth frustration by being unemployed with the providing of gainful employment.

35. Jetwing Youth Development Project, Vil Uyana • The Jetwing Youth Development Project provided in 2006 training absoluty free to School leavers from disadventaged farming families in the Sigiriya area. • Duration: Six months • Location of the Training: Buddhist Temples – Strong cooperation with Chief Monks

36. Jetwing Youth Development Project, Vil Uyana • Focus of Training: English classes and Hotel Operation Training but as well topics like Cultural History of the region and Biodiversity. • After six months, Jetwing held a passing-out ceremony for sixty trainess; afterwards they moved to the hotel for the final four months of preparation.

37. Average Income at Vil Uyana during 2nd year: 55 Pounds/74 EUR per month (+tip) Casual unqualifield work (…if work is availiable): 1.36 Pounds/1,86 EUR per day

39. Leeled Community in Southern Thailand Thank you!