Beyond community-based tourism. Towards a new tourism sector classification system

Abstract

espanolLos adversos efectos socioeconomicos, psicologicos y ambientales del turismo convencional, o de masas, provocaron la aparicion de nuevas formas de turismo como el turismo comunitario. Esta forma de turismo presenta caracteristicas prometedoras y alternativas como el empoderamiento de la comunidad y la sensibilidad medioambiental que podrian aplicarse a los sistemas de clasificacion (rating/grading) turisticos. Este articulo presenta un nuevo e innovador sistema de clasificacion turistica inspirado por estos principios del turismo comunitario. El articulo se basa en trabajos previos de los autores y en ideas provenientes de la literatura especializada y su contribucion principal es una propuesta de modelo de clasificacion turistica que, inspirada en el turismo comunitario, incorpora aspectos como la equidad, la educacion, el empoderamiento, el caracter endogeno y la sensibilidad ambiental como pilares y criterios para la clasificacion turistica. La aplicacion de este sistema de clasificacion requeriria de incentivos oficiales ya que la mayor parte de estos sistemas son de caracter voluntario. EnglishThe adverse socio-economic, psychological and environmental impacts of conventional/mass tourism prompted the emergence of new forms of tourism such as community-based tourism. This form of tourism manifests promising and progressive characteristics such as community empowerment and care for the environment with potential of these characteristics to be harnessed for rating/grading of facilities. This article presents a novel and innovative rating/grading system which leverages these CBT principles. The article is based on previous work and insights on grading systems from the extant literature. The major contribution of this article is the E-based model of facility classification system. The proposed classification system incorporates aspects such as Equity; Education; Empowerment; Endogenous; and the Environment as pillars/criteria for grading facilities. The operationalisation of this grading system has policy implications in that it requires incentives from the government given that most grading systems are voluntary.