Local Communities

While the boats slowly pass through the Mekong Delta, the tourists can buy produce, food, or drinks. Local communities retain this tradition to show the distinctive and vibrant modes behind each business deal. In the eyes of modern visitors, such a custom allows them to connect deeper with the domestic culture.

What is the meaning of locally-based community travel?

The industry of locally based communities means the type of travel that invites those living near tourist attractions to participate in and take advantage of tourism. Their participation can be in various forms. For example, they can sell homemade souvenirs, rent rooms, or offer special guided tours. This will generate revenues for both the locals and the tour operators.

Besides, involving local communities drives a responsible travel style. This means that the locals can promote to the tourists how to be mindful of their travelling style. For instance, when travellers arrive at a cave, they will share how to preserve the tourist stop. When the tourists visit an ancient temple, they can promote the ways to respect each statue and ornament inside.

For the tour operators, using the knowledge and wisdom from local communities will add to their travel packages. This aligns with modern tourists who tend to seek more special experiences. By taking the tours, they can learn folklores or legends from the residents that they can’t find on the Internet.

The roles of local communities for cultural preservation

Local communities play vital roles in promoting and maintaining heritage from their ancestors. Their actions get more crucial with the rising trend of vintage tourism. In this travel style, travellers visit ancient sites, such as castles, temples, fortresses, old city ruins, and more. Those old buildings remain strong magnets for modern tourists. The Colosseum in Rome, for example, draws more than six million guests per year.

Such a high number paints two opposite sides of heritage tourism. On the one hand, it generates high revenue for local communities and authorities. However, it may lead to damage to the historical sites quickly when many tourists don’t know how to protect the sites. This is where the locals come in. As they greet the tourists, they can pass on information on how the sites are not mere dead objects.

In this regard, the residents can tell the importance of the places that have gone through hundreds of years. Through these stories, they can transfer cultural values to the visitors. As a result, the travellers will respect the sites more. They become more mindful of their behaviours. Besides, the areas will stand tall for many years thanks to the more responsible attitudes from all.

Tourism management for boosting locally-based community travel

Promoting certain tourist spots by involving local communities requires specific strategies. These tactics help solve problems that may arise. One of which relates to possible unequal economic benefits for the residents. In this case, some locals get high incomes, but others don’t. The other matter links to a lack of tourism knowledge.

This knowledge covers customer service greeting and language skills. These can obstruct the locals’ potential to earn income as tour guides or hostel owners. Therefore, the authorities and tour operators need to craft special tourism management strategies. The methods below will help them enhance their economy, promote unique travel, and foster sustainable growth.

• Hosting tourism training

The training can consist of materials that will improve services for travellers. In this session, the locals will study how to talk to tourists politely and effectively, especially in English. For the ones who run lodgings, the training can include the materials on common facilities and resources that are usually needed by visitors.

• Ensuring equal economic impacts

All local communities must get equal economic benefits. As such, the authorities or tour operators need to sit down with the locals who wish to participate. Therefore, it gives them the opportunity to share what kinds of businesses they hope to run. Through these transparent discussions, all of the parties can support one another.

• Targeting the right market segments

Usually, locally based community tourism attracts people who have strong interests in culture, history, and nature. These travellers wish the tour operators and local communities to supply them with great services, especially in grasping the cultural and social contexts of the ancient places. For environmentally conscious tourists, they expect more tours that will engage them in natural conservation.

• Marketing and promotion

In response to those tourists’ tastes, the tour operators and local communities need to adjust their marketing steps. They can share the local customs and histories that are closely tied to their heritage destinations. For natural tourist destinations, the essence of marketing and promotion can revolve around the residents’ traditions to honour their environment.