Community-Based Tourism as a Sustainable Development Strategy - With a Focus on the Caribbean Region

Abstract

The travel and tourism industry continues to steadily grow and is one of the largest industries globally based on GDP contributions. Tourism is a significant part of the Caribbean region’s economy and has many socio-economic and environmental benefits. However, without proper management, risks associated with climate change and inequity persist and may increase. Balancing the necessity of attracting tourists to sustain and improve livelihoods while protecting biodiversity and managing environmental assets is challenging. This study focuses on how Community-Based Tourism (CBT) can be a viable development and conservation strategy within the tourism value chain by mitigating some of the associated risks. The methods utilized during this study include interviews with travel industry experts, a market survey, and a supplemental literature review. The results of this project include a market strategy focused on five categories to attract more visitors to the region and an evaluation of existing barriers associated with sustainable environmental measurement systems used by tourism operators or destinations. The results reveal the challenges and mitigation strategies associated with data collection, incentives for community participation, and the need for prioritization of indicators based on the volume of tourists and environmental impacts. For Community-Based Tourism locations to be successful, there needs to be both a strong marketing strategy to attract tourists and a prioritization of environmental indicators that evolve. Balancing the promotion and protection of assets is essential to obtaining long-term sustainable development.