Community-Based Tourism: A Pandemic Resilient “Fit-for-Purpose” Model

Abstract

According to the UNWTO (2020), tourism is considered one of the world's major economic sectors and accounted for 7% of global trade in 2019. For countries like Jamaica, the tourism sector is a significant provider of jobs and services. The literature chronicles the transformation of the tourism landscape – moving beyond resorts, cruises, and tours to a more culture-centric landscape, embracing authentic and natural environments. Consequently, community-based tourism (CBT) has garnered considerable attention as a fast-growing industry that embraces the special interests of the “new tourists.” Furthermore, CBT has become a significant socioeconomic benefit for inner-city communities. However, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the sector, impacting the national economy and the livelihoods of informal and formal tourism workers. Additionally, CBT experienced a loss of its primary stakeholders – tourists. Preliminary engagements revealed that the loss of CBT during the pandemic had adverse effects on communities and highlighted the fragility of the current CBT framework to withstand future unknown shocks. Therefore, the sustainability of CBT requires a different approach. This study sought to explore the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 on CBT in rural and urban communities to propose a “fit for purpose” model that can withstand adverse effects of shocks and be replicated across the Caribbean.

Citation

Burke, O. and Walters, S. (2022), "Community-Based Tourism: A Pandemic Resilient “Fit-for-Purpose” Model", Bethell-Bennett, I., Rolle, S.A., Minnis, J. and Okumus, F. (Ed.) Pandemics, Disasters, Sustainability, Tourism, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80382-105-420221005