How can you promote sustainable tourism through community engagement?

Decide tourism is for local society. Create a team of stake holders from the destination with practical and organizing skills. Include a sustainability team coach. Include decision influencers: permits and money. Create a robust action plan that include priorities, time lines, funding, decision making and communication. Choose who does what. Lobby and explain to relevant stake holders what you want. Don't forget local democracy. Do things!

Help stakeholders realize that all aspects of sustainability (not just the financial bottom line) need to be considered as parameters of success. e.g. Selling organic produce exclusively should be viewed as a safer and pollution-free alternative, and not as sacrificing profits. Find common ground between pre-existing community values and sustainability to instill a sense of ownership among stakeholders. e.g. They want to ensure their locality's well-being, and cutting down single-use plastic consumption is part of it too. Create an enabling environment for tourists by enhancing the culture and value chain to act as advocates of sustainability. e.g. Providing entertainment alternatives to electricity-intensive activities such as watching TV.

Responsible Tourism Those of us who love to travel want to be doing it for as long as possible. But that’s not only dependent on our own health, but also on the health of the planet. How can we travel and have a zero impact on the earth, or even improve the planet’s health? First and foremost, we need to respect the environment. In the same way that we used to derive pleasure and excitement from jetting from one new adventure to the next, we can drill down and learn about the people who inhabit our precious planet. By staying local on a trip, we can learn about the people whose homes we may visit, and their cultures, some ancient and in harmony with the earth.

Raise awareness for residents to actively participate in tourism activities offering their services as guides, artisans, or in other roles that showcase their culture and traditions. Allow communities to be part of the decision making and planning of regulative polices of tourism in their areas and support traditional craft markets, cultural festivals, and heritage preservation efforts. Ensure that the community benefits economically from tourism. This may involve revenue-sharing agreements, creating community-owned businesses, or reinvesting a portion of tourism earnings into local development. Encourage them to tell their stories, share their culture, and highlight the unique experiences they can offer.

You have to look at community members not as subjects, but rather as people within your familiar circle. A good way to do establish rapport could also be talking about your own life, and humanize yourself in their eyes. While going into a new community, we should also remember to go in without any pre-conceived notions. Most people will come forward with their problems on their own, once they see that you are present in the conversation. Don't be hesitant about offering and asking for small favors initially, but try your best to be well-informed about any potential disruptive effects of your actions. I believe that it is important to not let your own upbringing or even your training bias your observations in any way.

What We Can Do to Be Responsible Tourists There are many, many ways to travel responsibly. They are simple and usable no matter where you are traveling: o Bring a reusable water bottle and/or coffee mug o Use reef safe sunscreen o Ask for house cleaning only as needed o Tour by bicycle or walking o Stay several nights in one place o Try areas less traveled o Choose an eco-friendly destination o Combine Travel with Volunteering o Try to learn a few phrases in the local language o Try to book a direct flight to your destination