Tour Operators and Government Help

Tourism is certainly an important source of income for a developing economy but this brings along quite some negative effects. The drive to bring in as many tourists as possible often leads to the change of the natural environment and which will in turn cause a reverse effect by driving people away from it. There is an increasing desire among travelers worldwide to get to know an actual culture in its most natural forms. And this is why community-based tourism is increasing in popularity and it is promoted by both governments and tour operators. Community tourism is the sustainable answer to the need of tourists to experience the most genuine cultures and the need of the environment to be protected against the inflow of tourists as well as the economic chance for communities to develop and improve their life standards. Various countries in the world promote community tourism as a way to increase the number of tourists who love the wilderness and are ready to experience something different than a simple holiday. In most African countries and in particular in South Africa, communities are part of projects sustained and promoted by the government through which individuals living in a certain area provide basic overnight accommodation for their visitors and provide them with a firsthand experience on how life is in such a community. Tour operates also participate in the promotion of community tourism because they understand the need of visitors to experience something different and the need of the environment to remain untouched by the economic development which often brings along negative effects. In the end, community tourism is a form of sustainable tourism that provides visitors with unique firsthand experiences and communities with an opportunity to develop and improve the life standard. Community tourism is a positive type of tourism that benefits all those involved.