Monitoring Performance and
Ensuring Continuity
Community-based tourism products should be designed and managed
for long-term viability sustainability and success.
A recurrent problem with many community-based tourism products is
that they are established with external funds. When these funds
end usually so does the project. This is not acceptable. The long-term
sustainability of the project must be of paramount concern during
the design phase of the project. It is important to consider the
following where donor funds are involved:
- If donor money is being given for a community-based tourism
project it must be understood by the stakeholders that the project
is a long-term effort.
- A suitable exit strategy for the decrease and eventual termination
of donor funds must be developed.
- Complementary to the exit strategy must be a strategy for building
capacity at the local level.
- A long term local ownership strategy must also be developed
- Local and national agencies support must be on going to create
viability and sustainability of projects.
Projects will become strong if they are monitored on a regular
basis. During the monitoring process the participants must be given
feedback on all aspects of the operation. They must also be given
assistance to correct the problems that are detected during the
monitoring phase. In the initial design phase simple indicators
to be used in the monitoring process should be discussed with the
community. These indicators should cover areas such as: economic
performance, visitor and resident satisfaction levels. This approach
ensures sustainability and fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility
in the community. It is also necessary to train local participants
in the monitoring process. Certification and Award schemes can be
used to motivate the community to maintain high standards.
At the national level, data gathering from communities will assist
with the compilation of the human development index at the national
level. This approach would provide tourism with a fairly accurate
barometer of its efforts with respect to national development. Community-based
tourism has all the elements to move sustainable development from
the concept stage to reality
See
References
PIOJ document - Guidelines for South Coast Project
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prepared by Carolyn Hayle
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