The Role of International Cooperation in Community-based Tourism

AndreaGiampiccoli; OliverMtapuri

Authors

AndreaGiampiccoli TREES (Tourism Research in Economic, Environs & Society), North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
OliverMtapuri University of Limpopo, Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership, P.O. Box. 759, Fauna Park, 0787, South Africa.

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of tourism in rural development specifically with reference to community-based tourism (CBT) as a rural community development approach. A case study method is to unpack a CBT development project in which the influence of international actors is pronounced. Participant observation was used for data collection including reviewing of literature. This paper shows the trajectory of a CBT project being compromised by the influence of international capital within a neo-liberal framework. A major contribution of this paper is the proposition of a CBT model that articulates and delineates the role of external players and the ingredients of a potentially viable CBT project. These ingredients include: convenience to community, primacy of local culture, bottom-up structures, autonomy, self-governance, the promotion of community cohesion, respect for and preservation of the environment, enhancement of the health and educational well-being of communities.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n4p638