1. Community Based Tourism in Namibia
Presentation By Maxi Louis
28 April 2005

2. Contents Background What is CBT? Principles of CBT What’s happening?
Challenges
Questions / comments

3. Background Rural areas - shared resources Conservation link
Poverty alleviation link
Empowerment of rural communities

4. What is CBT? Campsites Cultural Craft Guides Tours Lodges Trophy
hunting
Info &
bookings

5. Principles of CBT Environmental Social Economic
Contributes meaningfully to conservation of the resources it uses
Environmentally sound design and operation (EIA and EMP)
Development fits into planning frameworks
Social
Employment preference to locals
Encourages local ownership and management
Works in harmony with local structures
Economic
Based on sound business case with proven market demand
Business plans developed
Management / ownership based on accepted best practice

6. Small Enterprise Development – current situation
UNSUSTAINABLE
CBTEs
SUSTAINABLE
CBTEs
Sustainable
CBTEs
In future
Quality product
Well managed
Most
CBTEs
Unsustainable
In 2003
What the tourist / operator needs
What the tourist / tour operator needs
Minimum standard required by tourism industry
Owned and managed by conservancy / community appointed manager (no incentives / autonomy)
Not entrepreneurial.
Owned by conservancy but management based on skills, competency, incentives and clear agreements (could be out-sourced if appropriate)
Entrepreneurial
Required shift
Individual empowerment
Conservancy Committee (CC) empowerment
CC manages the person
CC manages the agreement

7. What’s happening in CBT?
Guiding at rock art sites
Brandberg
Twyfelfontein

9. What’s happening in CBT?
Campsites – new developments
What’s happening in CBT?
Grootberg
Nambwa
Bum Hill
Ombalantu

11. Campsite upgrades
Puros
N//goabaca (Popa Falls)
Kubunyana

12. Tourist information
Uis
Aus

14. Cultural attractions and craft
Tsandi Homestead
King Nehale cultural centre

15. Cultural attractions and craft
Maltahöhe School Choir
Puros Cultural Village

16. Summary Currently 34 active small CBT enterprises
N$5 million in turnover in 2003
300 rural jobs created
100,000 visitors annually
29 enterprises with business plans
All active enterprises promoted on website
Booking and information service provided
Increased awareness

17. Partnerships with conservancies
Lodges
10 Active lodge partnerships in place

18. Trophy hunting 10 conservancies with hunting agreements
N$2.5 million in benefits to conservancies (2003)

19. Challenges
Some tour operators are not working through local structures
Tourism awareness for broader Namibian community still a necessity
Benefit distribution systems not well entrenched
Confusion between ownership and management
Absence of exclusion rights devalues community tourism assets

20. Questions / comments

21. Thank you!