Community based tourism (CBT) planning - An analysis of opportunities and barriers: A case study of Cameroon

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to analyze the opportunities and barriers to Community Based Tourism (CBT) in the case of Cameroon. The major contentious issue is that mass tourism has not benefited the communities which manifested in lack of their involvement in decision making processes in the context of tourism planning. The communities in Cameroon, who are also highly dependent on natural resources, have not been affected by tourism in terms of economic and social welfare in a positive way. Their livelihood has remained as sub-standard as ever before. Several tourism development initiatives have been designed without any mechanism to incorporate their knowledge and needs in the process. It is assumed that if tourism is going to make a positive change in the living standards of these communities, CBT can offer a hope for a partnership between the investors and communities. According to Hall (1996) the CBT’s aim is to involve the local communities in maintenance and planning of development of tourism so as to develop an economy that will be sustainable. However, there are various elements of barriers and opportunities that need to be explored as prerequisite to a successful CBT. Nevertheless, with changing of general attitude towards the concept and consequences of development, and the growth of NGOs, CBT has the potential to become a major development strategy for rural development, poverty reduction, as well as, strengthening of social capital. However, institutionalizing CBT and embedding it in the planning decision requires an extensive research into the barriers and opportunities to such a development project. This study is aiming to explore those barriers and opportunities that might have hampered the successful implementation of CBT. To achieve the purpose of this study a qualitative research method has been utilized. Data collection has been achieved by administering a semi-structured interview with public sector officials and community members to explore the barriers and opportunities to CBT. It is important to note that for CBT to take off and become a strategy for rural development, public sector’s role is fundamental. However, without community’s knowledge and participation any intended project might end in failure. The study has revealed that the role of public sector has been passive and there is no indication of a proactive policy. CBT has not become a specific strategy regarding sustainability, rural development, and a type of tourism that supposed to involve community’s participation. Findings of this study has shown that, there exist several opportunities and barriers in CBT development in a community. Some of these opportunities are; eradication of poverty, increase income, community empowerment, enhance standard of living of local community and job opportunities. It was also found that, there are certain barriers that serve as hindrance in the implementation of CBT development. For example; lack of adequate consultation of stakeholders, illiteracy, lack of tourism and business skills, top- down development and poor and unfaire partnership agreement. Keywords: Community-Based Tourism (CBT); Tourism Planning; Sustainable Tourism; Rural areas; Cameroon. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………