New perspectives of community-based tourism: A universal approach to tourism development

Whilst community-based tourism (CBT) has been frequently used as an effective tool for developing rural destinations, this chapter shows extensive potentials of CBT concept that are applicable to other types of communities. Tracing back to the original definition of community, its meanings are varied by heterogeneity in types, scales and functions based on geographical and socio-anthropological perspectives. However, the terms community and CBT have been deeply biased with the rigid conception of community as a small and secluded village. Therefore, CBT is often limited to homestay tourism, village tourism or indigenous tourism as the alternative tourism products in the rural areas. By taking broader perspectives towards communities into account, CBT can be positioned as the universal approach to tourism planning and development in which either rural, urban or other socially constructed communities play an active role and enjoy larger and more balanced benefits in response to their needs.