Abstract
The purpose of this study is to test the applicability of sustainable tourism theory within the sustainable community development framework. Starting with a review of literature on sustainable tourism and sustainable development, the study focuses on a project called “Achas Centre for Sustainable Community Development” (ACSCD). Based in the tourist hot-spot of Buea in the South West region of Cameroon, ACSCD operates on a theoretical framework designed to orchestrate development and shape the future of this mountainous (volcanic) city and its neighboring coastal city of Limbe. The research method employs the case study approach by exploring the conceptual base of this project that seeks to development tourism as a springboard for sustainable community development. The operating model of ACSCD reveals that the sustainable community development centre is complemented by the training centre “Achas Higher Institute of Sustainable Tourism, Hospitality and Business”. While the higher institute imparts the training that empowers community members with tourism and community development skills, the sustainable development centre channels these skills through identified focus areas into community development projects. The key finding of this study is that planning for the future and sustainable development of creative cities such as Buea, should be the outcome of both empowerment programs, the identification of essential development focus projects and the execution of such projects in the interest of sustainable community development. The significance of this study lies not only in its conceptualization of a new approach to sustainable community tourism development, but also its demonstration of the fact that sustainable community development is a result of both skills acquisition and the transmission of such skills into viable community development projects.
Highlights
Travel and tourism contribution to Global gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2011 is expected to stand at US$ 1,850.0 billion (2.8% of total GDP), increasing by 4.2% per annum to US$ 2,860.5 billion in 2021
Despite the plethora of literature on guidelines for the use of tourism to orchestrate sustainable community development, there are still few practical illustrations to showcase the successful implementation of these guidelines
This, in essence is the motivation for this experimental study that seeks to apply sustainable tourism theory to catalyse development in the mountain town of Buea in the South West region of Cameroon
Summary
Travel and tourism contribution to Global gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2011 is expected to stand at US$ 1,850.0 billion (2.8% of total GDP), increasing by 4.2% per annum to US$ 2,860.5 billion in 2021. While the economic gains emanating from this sustained growth in the tourism industry are evident and laudable, the translation of these benefits into visible developmental gains for poor communities has been the subject of much debate [2]. Despite the plethora of literature on guidelines for the use of tourism to orchestrate sustainable community development, there are still few practical illustrations to showcase the successful implementation of these guidelines. IFAD further states that “Rural poverty results from lack of assets, limited economic opportunities and poor education and capabilities, as well as disadvantages rooted in social and political inequalities” [4].
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