Community based tourism: critical success factors

Authors

  • Veronica Garcia Lucchetti LEEDS METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY – LMU/UNITED KINGDOM
  • Xavier Font LEEDS METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY – LMU/UNITED KINGDOM

Keywords:

Community Based Tourism, Project, Evaluation, Feasibility, Development

Abstract

This work appraises a community based tourism initiative in Peru by GAP Adventures and its foundation Planeterra. We aim to determine whether it is leading to improvements in the lives of the participants and the community, by analysing the impact, the method of implementation and the commercial viability of the project. A deeper level of analysis aims to understand the critical success factors for this initiative: the links with the private sector, proximity to the tourism market, the creation of attractive and competitive products, the consideration of profitability, the community’s will to engage in tourism, and the implementation of a monitoring and evaluation process. We propose that analysing projects at this deeper level will help take more informed decisions about what community based tourism projects can be feasibly supported by donors with a chance of financial survival.

Author Biographies

Veronica Garcia Lucchetti, LEEDS METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY – LMU/UNITED KINGDOM

A tourism professional committed to sustainability with an MSc in Responsible Tourism Management from the International Centre of Responsible Tourism at the Leeds Metropolitan University, UK. Has worked as a consultant on a UNDP sustainable tourism project in India and has carried out research for GAP Adventures in relation to one of its community-based tourism project in Peru. Has developed comprehensive consultancy and training skills through work with a range of hotel and travel companies across Europe, Asia and South America. Has widespread knowledge of international tourist destinations and cultures having worked and travelled in several countries.

Xavier Font, LEEDS METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY – LMU/UNITED KINGDOM

Professor Doutor da Leeds Metropolitan University, Reino Unido. Pesquisador em Marketing de Turismo Responsável, com vasta experiência em indústria e na formação do governo em todos os aspectos da produção desse tipo de turismo. Ele é o autor acadêmico com mais publicação nessa temática no mundo, tendo sido consultado sobre esse assunto por organismos como a UNEP, UNCTAD, OMT, IFC,CE, VisitEngland, Irlanda Fáilte, WWF, entre outros.

Published

02-02-2012

How to Cite

Lucchetti, V. G., & Font, X. (2012). Community based tourism: critical success factors. Capital Científico Journal - Electronic (RCCҽ) - ISSN 2177-4153, 9(2), 11–26. Retrieved from https://revistas3.unicentro.br/index.php/capitalcientifico/article/view/1519