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Community Based Natural Resource
Management (CBNRM)
Namibia's Community Based Tourism
Policy
- A Simple Guide - |
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Additional Information:
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Tourism has become the fourth
largest income earner in Namibia, and has created about 10,000
jobs. It is a vital industry but must benefit the local residents
of the areas that tourists visit. This will lead to higher living
standards and encourage people to conserve the environment.
Tourism is dependent on the environment - an environment which is
not cared for, with little wildlife and other resources will not
attract visitors to the country. It is therefore important to
consider the environment when planning new developments.
With this in mind, the Ministry of
Environment and Tourism has drawn-up the Community-based Tourism
Policy. The policy explores ways in which communities can benefit
from the tourism industry to promote social and economic
development and conservation in communal areas. |
Why do we need community-based
tourism?
How
will the policy benefit local
people?
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People can benefit from
tourism and participate in
tourism planning
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People will be encouraged to
develop tourism enterprises.
Incentives will be created to
enable people to benefit from
tourism on their land and to
conserve wildlife and natural
resources
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Development on communal land
must be acceptable to the people
living there
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Established tourism businesses
are encouraged to work with
people in communal areas.
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Tourism development will work
hand-in-hand with conservation
of the environment.
What
are the main principles?
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People must be consulted and
their ideas included in tourism
planning and legislation.
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Legislation should assist and
support tourism development.
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The informal tourism sector
should be organised and
recognised as representing
community interests.
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Large businesses operating on
communal land should involve and
benefit local residents, who
often gain little from wildlife
and tourism on their land.
Where
do we go from here?
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Increase representation in
tourism organisations
The establishment of groups
such as the Namibian
Community-based Tourism
Association (NACOBTA)
strengthens community tourism
activities by representing
rural people on existing
tourism boards and
associations. It is important
for people to join local and
regional tourism associations
to give community-based
tourism a voice at regional
and national level.
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Prioritise community interests
in planning
When residents or people from
outside an area want to use
land for tourism, the Ministry
will judge whether the
development:
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has been agreed to by
the local people
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will benefit local
communities
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may affect other local
tourism enterprises
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agrees with the regional
and national tourism plans
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will affect the
environment positively or
negatively
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Support tourism enterprises
run by communities / local
residents
A new grading system will be
created to include enterprises
such as community camp sites
and traditional demonstration
villages. They will be
promoted and marketed to
attract tourists, while
training will be given to
improve the skills of rural
people and communities
involved in tourism.
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Promote maximum benefit to
communities from private sector
tourist enterprises on communal
land
People can choose how and if
they want to run tourism
ventures. The Ministry
encourages revenue-sharing and
partnerships in which many
people stand to benefit.
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Enhance rights over tourism
resources
Conservancies
are one of the ways in which
people can gain rights over
use of resources such as
wildlife and tourism sites.
Once the conservancy
legislation is passed, the
Ministry will help people to
start wildlife conservancies
and tourism ventures in
communal areas
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Investment in Communal Areas
Good planning, training of
staff, marketing and promotion
are important when starting a
tourism venture.
Commercial tourism ventures
are encouraged to set-up local
funds which will help people
in rural areas to plan and
start new activities.
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Ongoing promotion of
community-based tourism
development
A Community Tourism Officer
has been appointed to
coordinate activities and to
help improve communication
between communities, the
Government, non-governmental
organisations and the private
sector.
Where can I find more
information?
For further information about the
community-based tourism policy,
contact:
The Community Tourism Officer
Ministry of Environment and Tourism
Private Bag 13346
Windhoek
Tel: +264 +61 +284 9111
Fax: +264 +61 +221992
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