Tag: community based sustainable tourism

Local artisans Vietnam

Local Artisans and Craftsmanship Revival Through Tourism

Artisan development and craftsmanship are important tools for local economic development and job creation. Tourism has helped restore and close the disconnect between rural and urban craftsmen and their networks and markets. The increased influx of visitors has provided artisans with a greater market presence and demand for their goods and services, pushing their craft businesses to new heights of success and sustainability.

However, there remains the potential for greater promotion of these economic activities within the tourism sector. As well as the preservation of crafts by bringing in opportunities to local artisans. By working closely with artisans, we can capitalize on and promote their existing traditions and artistic products. Let’s ensure that these valuable cultural assets are preserved and shared with a wider audience. Together, we will explore the dual benefits and synergies that emerge through local artisans and craftsmanship and tourism. Craftsmanship not only invites tourism and destination development through the authenticity and uniqueness of its attractions, but tourism also supports local artisans and cultural entrepreneurs, fostering shared prosperity. Join us in celebrating the resilience of cultural heritage and sustainable tourism. Discover how local artisans create a sense of identity, belonging, and community cohesion.

Preserving Heritage: Traditional Craftsmanship and Architecture in Old Cairo, Egypt

Celebrating Intangible Cultural Heritage

The year 2023 marks a significant milestone in the world of cultural preservation. We celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, adopted on October 17, 2003, by the 32nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO. Honoring cultural identities bridges the gap between different social groups. It also leads to upward mobility. This anniversary provides a unique opportunity for all to raise awareness about the diversity and richness of intangible cultural heritage and in fostering international cooperation.

What are Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage?

Cultural heritage is a broad term that includes tangible and intangible expressions of human culture:

  • Tangible cultural heritage refers to physical objects and areas with societal significance, such as archaeological sites, museum collections, landmarks, and, for example, the places that are listed on the World Heritage List. These can be preserved and transmitted to future generations through conservation, restoration, and education.
  • Intangible cultural heritage, on the other hand, refers to traditions or living expressions and practices. It includes performing arts, rituals and festivals, traditional knowledge and skills to produce crafts, and languages. Because intangible heritage is constantly recreated, it is transmitted through oral transmission, apprenticeship, and participation.

Shanghai’s Intangible Cultural Heritage: Handcrafting Traditions in China

Artisanal Preservation, Conservation, and Sustainability

As custodians of intangible cultural heritage, there is a need to grow the socioeconomic status of artisans. We need to protect traditions and promote the development of sustainable practices. Artisanal crafts play a significant role in conservation efforts by fostering ecological and cultural preservation. Traditional tribal crafts provide alternative income sources for local communities, reducing their dependency on forest resources for subsistence. This, in turn, helps mitigate the current social-ecological crisis while promoting the renewal of biodiversity and cultures.

Furthermore, maintaining cultural diversity in the face of growing interconnectedness and globalization can help with intercultural dialogue while encouraging inclusive thinking and mutual respect for other ways of life. Local artisans pass down their knowledge, skills, and craftsmanship from one generation to the next. Their work is not only about creating beautiful products. It’s about sustaining the stories, rituals, and practices that define who we are as a society.

Narrative Artistry: Unveiling China’s Vibrant Performance Traditions

Unlocking the Power of the Creative Economy

The creative economy, as a set of art and culture, design, and innovation industries, creates job opportunities and stimulates economic growth. It promotes entrepreneurship in the cultural sector, leading to an overall diversification of national economies. The creative economy contributes contributes just over 6.1% to the global gross domestic product (GDP), averaging between 2% and 7% of national GDPs worldwide.

Creative assets have untapped potential to deliver socially inclusive, competitive, regenerative, and economic benefits for cities and communities. Cultural and creative industries are at the heart of the creative economy and make cities more attractive places for both residents and visitors.

Understanding Cultural and Creative Industries

Cultural and creative industries are economic activities that enable culture and creativity to contribute to and promote rural-urban and socio-economic development. These industries safeguard local ownership and contribute to social cohesion at the grassroots level. They enable creative networks to develop and create opportunities for marginalized communities and individuals who are often economically excluded.

According to estimates from UNESCO, the cultural and creative industries currently provide nearly 30 million jobs worldwide and employ more people aged 15−29 than any other sector. Nearly half of the people working in the cultural and creative industries are women. This opens up new opportunities to address gender inequalities and women-focused investments.

Empowering Artistry: Women Crafting in West Bangalore, India

In 2021, the European Union expanded its Creative Europe programme, which now includes a budget of € 2.44 billion, compared to € 1.47 billion of the previous programme (2014-2020). The objectives of the programme are to enhance European cultural and creative industries, which, as expressed by the European Commission, include:

  • Architecture
  • Libraries and museums
  • Design and artistic crafts
  • Audiovisual, including radio, music, and visual arts
  • Tangible and intangible cultural heritage
  • Festivals and performing arts
  • Literature, books, and publishing

Tokens of Remembrance in Paris, France: Cultural and Creative Industries in Souvenir Craft

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlights the significant social impacts of cultural and creative sectors and industries, from supporting health and well-being to promoting social inclusion and local social capital. UNESCO and the World Bank have developed a Cities, Culture, and Creativity Framework to support cities in unlocking the power of cultural and creative industries for sustainable urban development, city competitiveness, and social inclusion.

Leveraging Tourism to Support Cultural Products, Values, and Heritage

Cultural and creative industries offer tourists an emotional experience that is different from tangible cultural heritage. Today’s high-value travelers seek authentic cultural experiences. Visitors want to go beyond just visiting landmarks and monuments. They want to experience the social practices that shape cities’ identities and cultures.

Fostering Tourism and Empowering Artisans

Cultural heritage and sustainable tourism preserve and celebrate authentic cultural expressions while fostering inclusive growth and community well-being. When tourism underpins cultural and creative industries, artisans are empowered. Their practices and customs are supported. This fuels economic vitality and establishes a relationship between cultural preservation and sustainable destination development.

Beijing’s Artistic Heritage: Handcrafts in China

Solimar’s Craft and Tourism Program improves the cohesion between the craft and tourism sectors. It does so by creating stronger linkages between the two along an integrated value chain. At Solimar, we recognize the dual benefits and synergies that exist between craftsmanship and tourism. By increasing access to the tourism market, artisans can grow their revenues and profitability. We thus link tourism demand with craft supply, creating direct linkages between craft and tourism experts and developing integrated marketing and promotion tools to help with destination planning. This, in turn, invites tourists and strengthens the networks and circuits in and around craft workshops. As a feasible strategy for local economic development, it allows the craft producer to build relationships with tourists. It also promotes and sustains traditional craft production practices.

The Importance of Diversification and Innovation in Destination Development

Handcrafts remain an important tool in traditional craftsmanship. Tourists often buy different products to take home as souvenirs or gifts. However, many tourists want to have a varied and rich experience that extends beyond handcrafts and towards gastronomy, performances, local costumes, traditional-style homestays, vernacular architecture, and all other cultural and creative industries that specialize in any particular tourism destination. This fills the hearts and minds of travelers with an emotional experience they will never forget when visiting a new destination. Let alone contributing to a longer stay, which means more spending and a higher rate of tourist satisfaction. Tourists now seek immersive experiences. This includes hands-on crafting, dancing with artisans, and cooking traditional food alongside locals, which promotes slow food and the value of leisurely dining over fast food.

Anhui, China’s Tea Festival: Savoring Tradition and Taste

The Culinary Tapestry of Experience

In the realm of tourism, gastronomy and cuisine hold a key role. The power of local flavors, recipes, and culinary traditions is remarkable. As tourists engage in these adventures, they not only savor the taste of a region but become part of the cultural narrative. Dining becomes an art form, and it is within this artistry that the emotional experience takes root. Travelers are filled with a profound connection to the destination, its people, and its heritage when they share in the preparation and enjoyment of local dishes.

Creative and Innovative Street Food Gastronomy in Hanoi, Vietnam

The journey shifts from being a passive observer to an active participant, shaping a more memorable and profound experience for all. The future of destination development lies in embracing diversity and innovation. Weaving together the threads of tradition and creativity into experiences that captivate and resonate with modern travelers.

The Way Forward and Recommendations

As we conclude our exploration into the revival of local artisans and craftsmanship through tourism, it is evident that the journey is rich with significance, promise, and optimism. Our understanding of the mutual gains and synergies created by the partnership between craftsmanship and tourism has illuminated the path to more inclusive and resilient travel. The importance of intangible cultural heritage cannot be discounted as we shift from a focus on tangible patterns to a profound appreciation for the customs, traditions, and practices that define identities and cultures.

Cities around the world must effectively provide the means and resources to promote the development of creative and cultural industries. The creative economy holds important outcomes in terms of urban regeneration, local economic development, and social inclusion. For tourism and social inclusiveness to be resilient, diversification and innovation in destination development are needed. Celebrating handcrafts, local costumes, performances, and gastronomy have become key components in providing visitors with immersive and emotional experiences.

In the ever-evolving world of travel, it’s not just about seeing new places but about participating in the cultural stories of communities. As tourists seek deeper, more meaningful connections, artisans and local traditions take center stage, crafting unforgettable experiences that contribute to a longer stay and higher rates of satisfaction. The future of tourism and destination development hinges on embracing the diversity, heritage, and innovation that local artisans bring to the table. As we move forward, let us continue to support and celebrate the local artisans who are the guardians of living heritage, ensuring that it thrives for generations to come.

Interested in how we can help you with artisan development and linkages? Contact us to learn more.

sustainable and resilient community based tourism in Brazil

A Tale of Resilience and Sustainability: Discover how Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s Community-Based Tourism Initiative flourished despite challenges

Community-Based Tourism Initiatives (CBTIs) as Catalysts for Local Development

In response to mass tourism challenges, sustainable tourism emerged, embodying essential pillars of sustainable development. This paradigm shift reinterprets tourism models, emphasizing consciousness, autonomy, and bottom-up strategies while detaching from predatory practices. Community-Based Tourism (CBT) exemplifies sustainable tourism, promoting local development through social justice, resource redistribution, sustainability, and empowerment. CBT initiatives (CBTIs) drive advanced development in impoverished regions with tourism potential to address challenges posed by mass tourism, visionaries conceived sustainable tourism, embodying sustainable development’s pillars.  

Rethinking Mass Tourism: The Resilience of Community-Based Tourism Initiatives

The tourism industry holds a significant global economic position, diversifying and actively participating in a growing services economy. It, directly and indirectly, employs a higher share of women and young people. However, the industry’s labor-intensive nature doesn’t always ensure proportional income generation and prosperity for all. “Tourist spending remains in the hands of a few, with high leakages to major corporations in developed countries”. This is worrisome as capital accumulation logic assumes low-complexity job generation ensures lifelong security. Historically, diverse and richly endowed peripheral regions in Latin America, the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia have drawn predatory tourism. Meanwhile, the absence or inefficiency of State regulation has regularly contributed to the vicious cycles of poverty and vulnerability.

Criticising Reductionist Mass Tourism: Impact on Local Cultures and Communities

In this regard, the reductionist notions of mass tourism have been particularly reprehended. To appeal to a larger public, this form of tourism caters to the demands and infinite desires of foreign visitors, at whatever cost necessary. Local cultural heritage is ignored, disrespecting it and disrupting social and economic networks. Additionally, catering to foreigners mistreats locals, displacing them and exploiting environments to depletion. As a result, what drives tourism growth is not the development of the region but the privatization of financial gains and socialization of negative externalities. 

Redefining Tourism: A Closer Look at Community-Based Tourism Initiatives

What sets this approach apart is its rooted philosophy of plurality. It is applied all throughout the planning and implementation, as well as in the management and monitoring of tourism activities. This is self-evident in:

  • the different backgrounds of stakeholders, ranging from self-sufficient communities to local governments and NGOs;
  • its multiplier effect, generating direct and indirect employment opportunities;
  • the recognition of the local human capital that seeks protagonists and acts proactively in touristic activities;
  • the appreciation of local culture and way of living, as well as, traditional peoples and their historical heritage; and
  • the ways of sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity conservation.

Their resilience, however, has been widely disputed by researchers in the tourism and development field. According to an analysis carried out by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2006 with 30 different CBTIs in Latin America, eight main deficiencies were identified: (i) dispersed and fragmented supply; (ii) diversification of tourism products is scarce and usually based on natural factors; (iii) professional management is limited due to unfamiliarity with the tourism market; (iv) low product quality; (v) low capacity for negotiation due to limited commercial information and communication mechanisms; (vi) difficulty in promoting CBTs in more dynamic environments; (vii) deficit in infrastructure, sanitation and public services; (viii) marginal or subordinate participation of women in the design and management of initiatives. 

In agreement with this analysis, Mielke (2009) focuses on three scopes of deficiencies: (i) market access; (ii) internal governance; and (iii) the management of strategic partnerships. As such, addressing the resilience of CBTIs is the stepping-stone to a successful local development strategy. These qualitative assessments hold high relevance in the post-pandemic scenario. They identify the elements and mechanisms enabling tourism initiatives to survive months without revenue or government or NGO support.

Why are Community-Based Tourism Initiatives on the rise in Brazil?

Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s Path: From Cultural Heritage to Thriving CBTI

In that regard, the tourism experiences of the traditional peoples of Quilombo Ivaporunduva have shown exemplary results by moving beyond idealism and legitimately underpinning the integration of conservation goals into development. Much like other quilombos throughout the country, this community was founded in colonial times to provide refuge to fugitive slaves. These spaces have since then been protected by guarantees and public policies to pay homage to the racial struggle and protect national identity. 

The story behind Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s CBTI

community-based tourism initiative
A house surrounded by trees in Caeté-Açu, PA, Brazil (Photo credit: Ramon Rocha)

Quilombo Ivaporunduva, located in São Paulo, Brazil, houses around 80 families and is esteemed as one of the region’s oldest Remnant Quilombola Community (CRQ). Its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage gained international recognition in 1999 when designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. They formed an association in 1994, gaining legal representation and recognition, and after a 22-year struggle, secured their entitlement in 2010. Their efforts led to recognition by the Land Institute Foundation in 1997, becoming the first CRQ in São Paulo to achieve legal security by INCRA. The community leader on the frontline of this battle was Ditão, who continued serving the community.

Quilombo Ivaporunduva: A Hub of Sustainable Development

Throughout the 1990s, the Association welcomed new prospects of income generation to complement the revenue derived from small-scale sustainable farming, which still is their main economic activity. Around the same time, tourism interest was beginning to pick up in the region. This was noticed by the municipal government who suggested CRQs adopt CBT strategies. Accepting this proposition took some convincing within Quilombo Ivaporunduva, since most locals had never heard about it and had apprehensions about its impacts. As a result, a round of debates was organized to discuss the positive and negative impacts of operating ecotourism and ethno-tourism. Eventually, most were convinced by its potential to contribute to the advancement of conscious citizens, conservationism, and cross-cultural appreciation.

The Association’s Leadership and Organizational Structure: Embracing CBT Strategies and Shaping a Vision

The Association holds authority for discussions and planning. Annually, the community shapes action plans and projects. Monthly meetings track progress and issues. A six-member board implements decisions. It’s elected every two years based on contributions and an audit committee, as stated in their Statute. That includes the relatively low share of income that is withheld by an obligation to maintain the Association.

After all accepted CBT, the Association initiated workshops on tourism concepts, demand mapping, and CRQ values. They used thematic guidelines to define their CBTI’s vision and mission, including aspects like Art, Customs, Nature, and more. After gradually becoming familiar with the idea, they began putting in more collective effort and raising funds for it to thrive. That is when the community decided to build an inn for tourists outside the residential area. The construction took place between 2001 and 2002 with resources from the state government and supervision by ITESP. Furnishing it took another three years with the help of the Secretary of Promotion of Policies for Racial Equality, linked to the Federal Government, and funds from Petrobras.

Building an Inn and Diversifying Initiatives

The Association achieved another milestone by categorizing its main initiatives into tourism, handicrafts, and organic production. They employ locals and families in rotational roles, including gastronomy, maintenance, administrative positions, and the families selling organic bananas. Marketed and delivered by the Association, cash crops like organic bananas took off when they became officially certified by the Associação de Certificação Instituto Biodinâmico. Part of their production is collected by the Quilombola Farmers’ Cooperative of Vale do Ribeira (Cooperquivale), who sell it along with the production of 17 other quilombos. Another part of the production is sold through the National School Feeding Program to cities in the state of São Paulo.

Capacity and Diversity of Visitors

Upon request, it is possible to participate in their harvests, which engage the entire community, followed by feasts and dancing. Besides these rituals, the Association has arranged a tourism package characterized by variety: (i) lectures on the history of the quilombo and current challenges related to sustainability, conservation, dam constructions and local development; (ii) workshops on fishing, handicrafts, medicinal plants, subsistence agriculture, banana crops, gold mining and local gastronomy; (iii) storytelling and village immersion; and (iv) visit Church Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Homens Pretos. Additional attractions explore surrounding areas like the Caverna do Diabo, Mirante do Governador, Cachoeira do Araçá, Trilha Vale das Ostras and Cachoeira Queda do Meu Deus. The CBTI experience includes becoming acquainted with the local cuisine through a varied menu. Throughout the tour, visitors are requested to respect local privacy.

Two coordinators in charge of the tourism agenda take care of the online bookings; negotiations with tourism agencies; management of the tourism package; hiring and training of local tour guides; elaboration of budgets; purchases for the inn; hiring of support staff and collecting tourism revenue. The price of the stay is defined by the accounting team, and they consider the prices of services and inflation rates. Around 70 people are directly employed to manage and administer the CBTI, not to mention the families contributing to artisanal and agricultural products and other hospitality services.

Achieving Stability and Prioritizing Infrastructure

Given this infrastructure, Quilombo Ivaporunduva has the capacity to receive up to 130 tourists per day and 60 people to stay overnight in the inn. With the help of tourism agencies like Araribá, they have received tourists from all ages, foreigners, schools, and professionals from academia. 

These legal and economic milestones towards the maturation of their CBTI granted greater stability that allowed the community to focus on other pressing matters. In acknowledgment of their rights, better facilities in infrastructure and public services became a top priority to protect their subsistence in the territory. Compensation was sought for the construction of a bridge in 2010, which enabled much-needed access to schools and health centers, not to mention an increased production flow and the influx of tourists.

The Pillars of Resilience: How Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s CBTI Thrived

sustainable and resilient community based tourism in Brazil
The power of resilience demonstrated by a small plant (Photo credit: Engin Akyurt)

Over the past two decades, at least six neighboring quilombos attempted ecotourism and ethno-tourism through CBT. However, only Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s initiative displayed resilience. They possessed predisposed advantages in geographic location, ecosystems, an established foundation from informal institutions and social organization, political networking inclination, and focused inclusive and strategic visioning. Unlike other Brazilian CBTIs, Quilombo Ivaporunduva embraced comprehensive participation pre-tourism, fostering a symbiotic relationship. Their tourism operation channeled pre-existing strengths productively, aiming to mature by adopting new technologies, constructing robust infrastructure and public services, sourcing multiple finances, ensuring educational opportunities, and deploying versatile attractions. Engaging hospitality demanded an open posture, especially from local guides, convincing them of their role in citizen development, environmental conservation, and cross-cultural appreciation. This transition reflects cultural dynamism stages spurred by the urgency to diversify income sources.

Navigating the Pandemic: Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s Response to Crisis

During the pandemic peak, stringent restrictions impacted core and ancillary economic activities due to mandatory self-quarantine measures. The Cooperquivale partnership halted, leading to surplus production. Face-to-face class interruptions canceled 38 tons of vegetable deliveries. A swift emergency plan established a food distribution network to address this, connecting sponsors and hunger relief campaigns with CRQ food donations. Partners procured food from the cooperative and distributed it in baskets, achieving a triple purpose: sustaining field production, securing CRQ income, and ensuring food security for vulnerable urban populations. Quilombo Ivaporunduva contributed 254 tons of food (from May 2020 to October 2021) to over 31,000 individuals in various quilombos, rural, and urban communities. This initiative persisted until January 2022.

Unveiling the Secrets of Success: Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s Takeaways for Thriving CBTIs

As such, with the maturation of other CBTIs in mind, Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s experience provides some rich reflections and takeaways: (i) branching out to appeal to a wider public; (ii) the differential attraction that forges an authentic experience to secure a competitive advantage over conventional tourism products; and (iii) the importance of governmental assistance in creating incentives for visitation and structural investments.

 The Role of Destination Management Organizations in CBTIs

role of destination management organisations in sustaining the resilience of community based tourism
A photo of a trail in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh, where Solimar is establishing a DMO. (Photo credit: Rasima Sabzalieva )

Empowering the Future: How Destination Management Organizations Support CBTIs

Reliance on these opportune determinants alone doesn’t ensure resilience. Enhancements are necessary in dimensions like digital adaptability, predicting increased rural technological infrastructure demand. Long-standing concerns about local development center around information and communication technology needs. The pace of technological transition in rural economies lags behind urban settings, necessitating smart city investment and complex policies. Insufficient facilities in infrastructure, public services, and civil services challenge CRQs. Improved living standards leading to returns suggest that emigration is restricted by fundamental factors rather than voluntary choices. Facility scarcity hampers resilience, hindering responsiveness and community empowerment. Concerns arise about a state draft law recognizing and regulating CBTIs, lacking incentives to bolster resilience. It grants unilateral authority to the State and Municipal Secretary of Tourism for monitoring and data collection without anticipating participative committees or councils linking local needs to private sectors, governmental agencies, and different levels of government’s political will and power.

On a further note, it sustains the gap between stakeholders in the public and private sectors and from civil society and the communities to focus efforts, generate some level of agreement on development objectives, and deliver cooperative mobilization. In fact, other dimensions could benefit from a more effective and efficient public sector involvement – as noted by the absence of the local government and Secretary of Tourism of São Paulo in strategic visioning processes. To understand these shortcomings more deeply, one would need to conduct a personnel analysis of the Secretary of Tourism of São Paulo. This trend is evident in the State’s lack of proactive measures to provide dedicated funds for CBTIs and ongoing educational opportunities, including training for tour guides and hospitality workshops. 

Destination Management Organizations’ Strategies for CBTIs

On that note, considering how Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) play an essential role in managing tourism at the local level to attract tourists and support businesses within its boundaries, these are the ways new opportunities could be created: 

  • Conduct Market Research
  • Branding campaigns related to ecotourism, agro-tourism, and cultural tourism;
  • High-quality product development for schools and social movements;
  • Maximizing and pooling financial resources from both public and private sources; 
  • Marketing through targeted campaigns;
  • Partnerships on issues related to sustainability to achieve common goals;
  • Addressing barriers that prevent neighboring CBTIs from maturating;  
  • Effective communication with stakeholders;
  • Supporting efforts to update the regional Tourism Master Plans (PDT);
  • Promote cultural appreciation and transparent synergies.

It is important to highlight that DMOs can be part of a government entity, a stand-alone organization, or a combination of a chamber of commerce and a tourism bureau. Businesses can invest in DMOs to pool resources by making voluntary marketing contributions that bank advertising. In essence, it leverages its money with the organization and the community to promote the destination. In parallel, ratifying tourism marketing authorities (TMAs) from government-level authorization allows DMOs not to be at the whim of the government since tourism budgets may have to compete with other priorities.

Empowering DMO Development: Insights from Solimar International

Jennifer Wesselhoff, the President and CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, strongly advocates for creating these key players in the DMO Development Program provided by the Institute for Sustainable Destinations. With over 20 years of industry experience, she has observed how it shifted the power dynamics between tourism businesses and the city to align their interests. This facilitated an easy decision to increase taxation on the tourism industry, establishing a higher percentage of “bed taxes” in the United States. This move led to increased municipal funds, benefiting both locals and tourists. However, it’s important to note that focusing on higher tourist spending instead of numbers could potentially exclude budget-conscious travelers. Adapting insights from DMO experiences in the US and other Solimar projects to Brazil’s market could usher in a transformative era for CBTIs.

Interested in how we can help you with Destination Management Organizations? Contact us to learn more.

negev desert tourism landscape

The Negev Desert comprises 60% of Israel and contains an impressive variety of dunes, red mountains, cliffs, craters, seas, and of course – local communities. Learn about Bedouin Tourism in Israel’s Negev Desert and social tourism.

negev desert tourism, a tourist touches a sacred rock solimar international

Tourism has a huge potential to positively impact communities, especially when it is conducted sustainably. In this blog post, we highlight “Community Trails” and Bedouin tourism in the Negev Desert, Israel. We interviewed Raz Arbel, a social tourism specialist, so get ready to be inspired!

Exposure to different social tourism projects can bring different perspectives to the table and help people think of ways to go about their own. Yet, universal “best practices” are rare, as every project should be adapted to the local context, and relate to the culture, needs, and resources the community possesses. In order to utilize tourism for sustainable development, cultural sensitivity, in-depth research, and immersion in the local environment are crucial.

The Bedouins are a semi-nomadic indigenous people, some of which still preserve their traditional lifestyle. The Negev is home to approximately 200,000 Bedouins, and in the past few years following Raz’s initiative, many have turned to tourism as a source of income.  

Negev Desert views. Credit: Ronny Pohl
Negev Desert views. Credit: Ronny Pohl

Raz Arbel has been an Israeli tourism professional for the last 30 years. He managed the Sde Boker Field School as well as the tourism department of Ramat HaNegev regional council. In recent years he is self-employed, leading various social tourism projects. In 2016, he partnered with Shay Yagel to create the “Community Trails” initiative, a network of marked multi-day hiking trails in Israel that aim to benefit local economies. Eventually, the project expanded to a wider product, with Bedouin hospitality at its core.   

What makes Bedouin Tourism in Israel and community trails a social tourism project?

Social tourism means that you enable local communities to earn a living from where they live, without forcing them to change their lifestyles. In the case of the Bedouins, for example, it means you don’t build special tents, but utilize the existing ones. If there’s a woman who bakes, she would bring bread for dinner. If someone makes carpets, you buy carpets from him to decorate the tent or sell to the visitors.  

What makes the community trails a successful desert product?

The desert product is an intimidating product. If you tell someone who has no prior experience of deserts, let’s hike in the desert, it would scare him. Here, through Community Trails, we facilitate movement within the desert in a safe way. There’s a path, it’s clearly marked, and you know you’ll reach a place to sleep with food at the end of the day. The Negev Highland Trail, for instance, spans from Merhav Am to Mitzpe Ramon and offers a beautiful desert landscape with archeological sites, natural water sources, and even wall paintings. 

When I guide tourists in the desert (on other occasions) I try to pass my self-confidence and certainty onto them. The Bedouin does it naturally. He sits on the ground, drinks tea from the fire, and walks barefoot at times. That magically changes your perception of the desert, and when a person gains this confidence he’s less intimidated and more open to experience the desert fully.

This issue is also the reason why the Israeli desert product that we helped develop is called the “friendly desert”.

So how did you get involved with the Bedouins?

In some parts of the Negev Highland Trail, Bedouin villages are the only communities around. When we traveled to the Bedouin villages to check if we could involve them in this development, we discovered that most have no experience in commercial hospitality. This was very surprising to us, given that hospitality is integral to Bedouin culture. The thing is that they don’t know the needs of a western tourist when they come to their tent.

 

photo of Raz Arbel who is a pioneer of bedouin tourism in israel
Photo of Raz Arbel

Can you give an example of this unfamiliarity?

Sure, typically when you sit around the fire with your host, the conversation stays around welcoming formalities. It is not part of Bedouin customs to talk about anything relating to your life, political views, diseases, whatever – as to not accidentally offend your guests or put them in an uncomfortable situation. It’s part of the Bedouin culture. The western tourist, on the other hand, often wants to hear about their host’s life. So our main efforts became creating a process that teaches the Bedouins how to host accordingly.

What was the training like?

Our first group was made of 16 men from the Arika Village (Wadi Arika). For 3 months, we taught them what tourism entails, what needs to be prepared in the tent so visitors feel comfortable, and how to tell a story about the tent, the camel, or the Bedouin lifestyle as a whole. We followed this up with individual mentoring that focused on additional services each host could offer his guests.

In total, we trained 12 groups of men and 12 groups of women all across the Bedouin community. We started with the community trails project, but once the Bedouins started hosting, they opened it to anyone interested. Suddenly, jeep tours started bringing in tourists, as well as other tourism operators, and the product became much wider in scope than what we had originally expected. Through that, more local products developed like shepherding, various workshops, and  more.

A traditional Bedouin tourism in israel experience involving brewing tea along a community trali

 

Can you share some major challenges you faced in the development of this project and how you responded to them?

One of the biggest problems is with availability, where most of the time, Bedouins don’t answer numbers they don’t know. To solve this challenge, we initially gave out our phone numbers to the public. This way, we were the mediators that would facilitate communication between interested tourists and the reservation hosts. 

Now, a Mitzpe Ramon based NGO called Keshet is building a website that will facilitate the reservation process for the Bedouins and provide phone availability. They’ll do this by making agreements with each individual Bedouin.

Another challenge was that many of the villages were unrecognized by the state. As a consequence, something as simple as building a proper western toilet was seen as a violation, and thus they were destroyed. After a lot of time and effort, we reached an agreement about the enforcement mechanisms settled upon the rule that the toilets would be of temporary construction and destroyed only if the whole village would be evacuated. 

Because of our work, the project eventually got planning approval, which was a significant achievement. This meant the villages received a permanent status as traditional localities.

What impact does social tourism have on the Bedouin people?

Firstly, it is economical for them. The Bedouin people can stay at home and earn money from it. Secondly, it fosters local pride. Third, it promotes cleanliness. Locals care more about what their environment looks like. Additionally, it bridges and connects communities, especially Jews and Bedouins, but also tourists from overseas and Bedouins. Lastly, it causes parents to encourage their kids to learn English so they can communicate with tourists.

Bedouin Desert weaving beautiful fabrics

So what you’re saying is that the project had not only a positive economic impact on the Bedouins, but also on the cultural level?

Yes, it caused them to return to their traditions, and in some cases even relearn them. At a certain stage, we wanted to involve women in the tourism industry, but because most of them don’t speak good English or Hebrew, they couldn’t host directly or share stories. So instead, we focused on traditional crafts like embroidery and weaving, making goat cheese, or traditional breads. Some of the younger girls had no idea how to do it, so we taught them, and it became an integral part of the hosting experience. As a result, the man was proud that his wife brought the traditional food or a hand-crafted dress she made. This involvement shows the many benefits of bedouin tourism in Israel.

So, eventually it creates pride in their tradition?

Absolutely! The most important thing that happens in authentic or social tourism is the development of local pride. I saw it in more places, not only among the Bedouins.  

That’s why I believe social tourism is one of the most interesting and important tourism products that will develop all across Israel in the next few years.

Thank you! 

The project’s new website (for Bedouin tourism products) will be launched at the beginning of 2022, so be sure to check it out for an authentic desert experience in Israel!

To sum up, social tourism can be greatly impactful, though challenging at times. Working alongside the community, understanding the local culture, as well as the tourists’ experiences, are key factors in the development of a successful and sustainable product. This case study of bedouin tourism in Israel is a perfect example!

At Solimar, we specialize in supporting and managing tourism for social development. Solimar’s project in Armenia, for instance, helped develop the cultural tourism industry primarily through community-based sustainable tourism. Have a look at more of our projects here.

“We rely confidently on Solimar's deep technical experience and professionalism as tourism consultants. You always are exceeding our expectations.”
Leila Calnan, Senior Manager, Tourism Services Cardno Emerging Markets

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