Rural tourism
The mechanization of agriculture has reduced the need for manual labor, leading to economic pressures on some villages and prompting young people to migrate to urban areas.
In the United States, niche tourism programs such as wine tours, agritourism, and seasonal events are prominent in rural areas.
These tourism activities contribute to rural community development and provide economic benefits, including job creation and support for local businesses.
Community ecotourism is a related concept that focuses on responsible travel to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of local people.
From wine tours and eco-tourism, to agritourism and seasonal events, tourism can be a viable economic component in rural community development.
A conservative estimate from the Federal Reserve Board in Kansas, based on 2000 data, shows that basic travel and tourism industries accounted for 3.6 percent of all U.S. employment.
Initially, this growth was driven by farmers seeking alternative sources of income due to declining agricultural profits.
This diversification has attracted a steady stream of domestic tourists, making rural tourism a substantial contributor to the local economy.
Similarly, the World Conservation Union goes one step further in defining ecotourism to include enjoying and appreciating nature, have low negative visitor impact, and providing socio-economic involvement to the local populations.
[12] An example of such occurrence is in Montego Bay in which international organizations brought tourists to already westernized sites, which harmed this degraded environment.
As a whole, the rise in demand of tourism to exotic places as they become more accessible provides an opportunity for vulnerable and economically impoverished communities.
Community ecotourism can act as a solution to social justice issues that arise with the tourism industry in respect to the economy, environment, and culture.
[17] As a whole, community-based ecotourism can overall increase the economic value of a previously impoverished area through providing dignified jobs and capital into the local economy.
[19] Community ecotourism becomes a potential solution to bring social justice to those suffering from side effects of mass tourism in locations most vulnerable to climate change.
When visiting national parks, guides must be with the tourists to ensure they stay on the paths and do not harm the environment during nature walks.
Specifically, engagement in nationalism, socioeconomic conditions, and similar age groups can help narrow the social gap and decrease stereotypes.
In Tanzania's Ngorongoro Conservation Area, tourists come to look exclusively at the nature bringing primarily economic benefit with arguably negative impact on sociocultural and environmental factors.
This idea is common with certain lodging as people look for green marketing to attempt to have an ecotourism experience with minimal responsibilities as a tourist.
However, these low impact campaigns can cause harm to already vulnerable communities, amplifying the institutionalized poverty found in many of these locations.
When looking at what makes a successful responsible tourism enterprise, research has found the focus on strong leadership, clear market orientation, and organizational culture to be essential.
In fact, Reimer and Walter have found that in Cambodia, populations have limited their logging and other harmful practices because ecotourism has given a more successful industry and greater awareness to the intrinsic value of the environment.
A specific part of Costa Rica that has benefited from community-based ecotourism is Tortuguero, a turtle-nesting area surrounded by a national park with an impoverished community.
In terms of the sociocultural aspect, training and education of the local community has become a priority to ensure their ability to continue as a community-based endeavor.
[25] There are now nonprofit organizations in Costa Rica that will train local small businesses to successfully run community ecotourism enterprises.
In the Mara Naboisho Conservancy (established in 2010), over 500 Maasai landowners lease their land to tourism companies, receiving payment for keeping it unfenced.
[30] Lease fees fund education and training facilities and Maasai work as guides, in the camps, and sell beadwork and other crafts.
[33] The Mara Naboisho Conservancy has one of the highest densities of lions in the world,[34] with tourism provider Basecamp Kenya employing 400 staff and directly benefitting more than 10,000 families.
The conservancy now protects a vital migration corridor between the Masai Mara and the Loita Plains used by several hundred thousand animals.
While stakeholders want the same idea of economic improvement, environmental sustainability, and cross-cultural relationships, the end goals are often defined differently.
Overall, the success of smaller enterprises that have thrived under strong leadership and community efforts will help tourism be a tool for economic development.
