A little bit of history
Community-based tourism is a concept which has been put into practice in all Latin America in the last 10 years.
It originates in the midst of criticism and claims coming from receiving communities, non-governmental organizations, scientists and social movements, concerning the impacts of conventional tourism that are, day by day, reaching bigger proportions and transforming everything into merchandise.
There have been, at local, national and international spheres, several moments of reflection and networking among the actors involved regarding the construction of a critical thought on the subject, discussing the challenges to be confronted and establishing cooperation, seeking to consolidate and strengthen community-based tourism.
Examples of these moments are: the Tucum Network State meetings, two editions of the International Seminar on Sustainable Tourism (2003 and 2008) held in Fortaleza; the World Social Forum of Mumbai – India (2004) and the World Social Forum of Porto Alegre (2005), as well as several other local initiatives of community-based tourism.
These events are taking place in different places in the world. In Europe many experiences of a tourism that is both sustainable and builds solidarity are now blooming. The demand for more authentic tourism experiences that can be enjoyed in full respect of the environment and of local communities is on the increase. This is why, in both Europe and the USA, new associations and small operators are starting up, with the aim of assisting sustainable travelers on their way to these alternative tourism destinations.
We are living a moment in which community-based tourism is no longer a dream of a few and has been constituted into an alternative of resistance and possibilities for several social subjects in several places of Brazil and the world.
It originates in the midst of criticism and claims coming from receiving communities, non-governmental organizations, scientists and social movements, concerning the impacts of conventional tourism that are, day by day, reaching bigger proportions and transforming everything into merchandise.
There have been, at local, national and international spheres, several moments of reflection and networking among the actors involved regarding the construction of a critical thought on the subject, discussing the challenges to be confronted and establishing cooperation, seeking to consolidate and strengthen community-based tourism.
Examples of these moments are: the Tucum Network State meetings, two editions of the International Seminar on Sustainable Tourism (2003 and 2008) held in Fortaleza; the World Social Forum of Mumbai – India (2004) and the World Social Forum of Porto Alegre (2005), as well as several other local initiatives of community-based tourism.
These events are taking place in different places in the world. In Europe many experiences of a tourism that is both sustainable and builds solidarity are now blooming. The demand for more authentic tourism experiences that can be enjoyed in full respect of the environment and of local communities is on the increase. This is why, in both Europe and the USA, new associations and small operators are starting up, with the aim of assisting sustainable travelers on their way to these alternative tourism destinations.
We are living a moment in which community-based tourism is no longer a dream of a few and has been constituted into an alternative of resistance and possibilities for several social subjects in several places of Brazil and the world.
