Community-Based Tourism:

A Way Forward for Cultural and Natural

Preservation

Presented by

Marcus Curcija, PhD

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Who Is LEMCO?

• A Land Economic Management & Conservation project management firm with a track record in sustainability. Incorporated in 2008. Offices in UK and Colombia till 2014. Then re-established from 2016 in Australia.

• LEMCO Pty Ltd as an organisation is supporting the setting up and development of a new class of ‘Asset’ to be used for supporting the following:

1. Rainforest Conservation programs

2. Mangroves Conservation and rehabilitation

3. Planting of Biofuel crops in cleared degraded lands

4. Supporting Sustainable Agri Projects

5. Programs addressing Food Security

6. Programs for preservation of Wildlife and Sea life

7. 3rd World Community Economic Development

programs including Low Cost Housing Solutions

8. Crowd funding of community based sustainability projects

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LEMCO Team working to make it happen

for the Solomon Islands

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The LEMCO Solution

• Marcus Curcija, PhD

– Director for Sustainable Livelihoods

– Expert in:• community-based tourism,

• community dynamics during development,

• conflict management between stakeholders,

• strategic implementation processes at the community level, and

• the mobilisation of community agendas, assets and resources

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CBT: Overview

• Definition - “Tourism owned and/ or managed by communities and intended to deliver wider community benefit, benefiting a wider group than those employed in the initiative.” (Goodwin & Santilli, 2009)

• Emphasis on the Local Community’s participation in the development process– Appreciation of the local culture, handicrafts,

homestays, natural attractions, community assets and knowledge of the region

– Cultural and Environmental Preservation

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So… What is CBT?

• Cultural Preservation– Handicrafts

– Cultural dance

– Culinary offering

– Homestays

– Community Interaction

• Environmental Preservation– Bushwalking… wildlife exploration

– Scuba-diving

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Benefits of CBT?

• Benefits the Preservation of

Indigenous life

• Cultural Exchange

• Builds Capacity and Education levels

at the local level

• Maintains the local way of life while

preserving the pre-existing assets

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What are Homestays?

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What are Homestays?

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What are Homestays?

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Current Provincial Focus

• Russell Islands

• Guadalcanal

• Makira

• Other Central Province locations

• Malaita

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Phased Implementation Strategy

• Research

• Exposure

• Brainstorming

• Detailed Planning

• Operations

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1) Research

• Evaluate and begin to develop support services, networks, partnerships, etc. to assist with capacity-building and training

• Evaluate and encourage community participation

– Get the youth (16-25) involved

– Gathering information about the native vegetation, natural attractions, doing a wildlife study of the area = audit of natural assets

• Conduct a cultural study, information on traditional costume, food, handicraft, local folklore and history.

– Start to assist initial homestay participants (incentives through certification)

• Local community conducts preliminary research on business and marketing practices to become familiar with best practice

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2) Exposure

• Fieldtrip for the most dedicated community participants (20-40) to an established CBT operation (or even just a tourism offering) to appreciate the proper reception of tourism and hospitality experiences

• Integrated Learning through a first hand account on how a visitor/ guest should feel during product consumption and what is required from tourism based service providers to deliver the desired outcome

• How to Manage and Conduct tourism based businesses:

– What are the foreseeable challenges?

– How are tourists managed?

– How are sales generated?

– How do hosts conduct business to deliver the product?

– How is the community product interpreted?

– How the development of the community product can assist the community?

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3) Brainstorming

• Local CBT participants review and evaluate what products and services the community can provide and what they would like to offer

• Construct or designate and refurbish a central hub for CBT operations– For administration purposes

• Develop informative signage

• Begin to integrate a Tourism Planning agenda– Agree on what the initial attractions will be

• Start to zone and categorise areas of the community for certain CBT activities

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4) Detailed Planning

• Determine how to implement the community product

• Start marketing efforts

• Establish detailed plans for each product offering

• Compose and classify ‘Working Papers’ to be presented to all community members so they are aware of the product offering and the benefits to the community

• Establish various associations to increase participation

• Implement the Homestay Certification Program

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5) Operations

• Ensure Homestay Program participants are prepared to start accepting guests

• Stage by stage, phase by phase, goals will need to be set to gradually increase visitation

• This will need to be continually reviewed

• Upon successful implementation, a community co-operative can be established

• Community acceptance and participation will improve as tourism numbers grow

• The benefit sharing scheme will be established

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CBT: Best Practice

– Proper Implementation of Planning is Necessary through

Constant Review of the Community’s Goals

– Dedicated Leadership Must Remain Focused and Diligent in

Supporting Participation

– Benefit Scheme Should be Reviewed Systematically

– Successful CBT Takes Time

– The Funding Process Must Enable the Empowerment of the

Community

– Partnerships and Networks Need to be Utilised

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Proper Implementation of Planning

• To assist community acceptance, a clear understanding of the aims and objectives of the community, CBT operators, and the development process should be understood collectively.

• Is necessary through constant review of the community’s goals.

• Is necessary from the initiation of CBT being considered as a community development option.

• The planning of CBT requires the community to vocalise their needs and desires regarding the benefits of the initiative.

• Emphasise the importance of planning through the involvement of the community,

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Dedicated Leadership

• Both CBT and community leadership must be clear on the commitment and resources required to enable a successful CBT offering.

• Leadership must remain focused and diligent in supporting participation.

• From the onset of CBT, leadership must be goal-focused and project-driven to bring benefits to the community.

• By giving direction to the CBT project, leadership gains the trust of community members, which results in increased participation.

• Strong, dedicated leadership must be in place.

• Leadership that is able to motivate community members and gain their trust gains greater participation in the CBT product.

• Through participation, community members then develop a greater understanding and appreciation for the benefits of CBT.

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Benefit Scheme

• CBT management and the community need to agree how benefits will be integrated into the community.

• Should be reviewed systematically

• Prior to receiving tourists or applying for government assistance, a benefit sharing scheme should be determined by the CBT leadership, in consensus with the community.

• The community needs to decide if there will be a communal benefit contribution and who will receive benefits.

• As CBT development increases, decisions need to be made regarding the benefit scheme, ensuring it is fair and equitable to those who participate in CBT operations and those who do not.

• The benefit sharing scheme needs to be monitored and reviewed periodically to ensure it remains fair to the entire community.

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Successful CBT Take Time

• All stakeholders would benefit from realising CBT is a lengthy process and from maintaining focus on each stage of development.

• Due to the process associated with CBT, time and patience are needed to achieve the community’s goals and to get the implementation correct.

• CBT requires continual reinforcement of addressing associated challenges within the community to ensure community members feel comfortable with the process and develop the skills necessary to implement CBT and make it function as a community development tool.

• Successful CBT takes time to develop, implement, and attract enough tourists to where positive impacts on community livelihoods are realised.

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Enabling Empowerment of the Community

• During the integration of CBT into the community, focus needs to concentrate on enhancing community members’ capacity to operate as a business.

• Ensure funding and resources are utilised efficiently.

• Empowerment of the community is necessary for them to be able to conduct CBT operations without assistance and to be assertive in the development process.

• Funding streams eventually deplete and assistance from external stakeholders will eventually become non-existent.

• Throughout the process, it is essential that funding and resources are being applied in the most beneficial and sustainable ways.,

• The need for the funding and development process to enable the empowerment of the community and its members is an absolute necessity.

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Partnerships and Networks Need to be Utilised

• To ensure the community is able to maximise benefits from CBT, it is vital for CBT management to adopt a business approach to enhance operations through external capabilities.

• Partnerships and networks are necessary for bringing additional job creation and economic diversity to the community through CBT.

• Partnerships and networks will assist the community in achieving successful impacts related to their CBT project, but can also serve as the much-needed assistance in establishing bilateral industries to complement the CBT product.

• Communities should be integrated into tourism networks.

• Networks and entrepreneurial pursuits, as well as a community development plan that address other industries in addition to tourism, contributes to successful community development.

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Discussion

• Do you have experience in CBT?

• Do you know of colleagues with experience in CBT?

• Are you aware of any businesses or organisations connected to CBT through their work?

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Final Questions?

• Please make sure you signed in prior

to entering the auditorium so we can

stay in contact as an association

• Following the presentation session,

please use this time to network

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Contact

For all CBT related inquiries,

please email

– Dr. Marcus Curcija – marcus@lemco.biz