Travel experiences with and within the local communities help us to absorb some meaningful knowledge about the way these communities live. Let us understand why local is powerful, be it communities, travelling, or your experiences.
In a fast-paced, globalised and digitally connected world, one might feel stranded with the mixed feelings of being a part of so many different communities.
While tourists travel to a place for multiple reasons, spend some time there and leave back for their homes, locals live in those places every day. Their ways of living are deeply rooted in the places we find touristic. So, while these local communities continue to be the protectors of their living areas and natural environment, the responsibility to maintain those places lies on our shoulders too.
Local communities, local travelling and local experiences are powerful to shape our beliefs and values. It would be much more beneficial to take a journey to local places and understand the ways of living of the local people. Sounds like too much local? But this is exactly where we need to go and be.
The UN Environment Program and UN World Tourism Organization define sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.” Sustainable Tourism acknowledges the impacts of tourism, both positive and negative.
Engaging in this type of sustainable and community-based tourism has the incredible potential not only to expand travellers’ beliefs, thoughts, and assumptions about other cultures, but also to protect the environment and enhance the livelihoods of the local people.
The participation of local communities in big and small tourist places provides the host community members with a range of opportunities to participate effectively in tourism development activities. It makes them active participants in the socio-economic development of their region.
Yet, in order for this type of transformation to take place, destinations, and tourism boards must take strategic steps toward sustainable development.
Local is Powerful
Gone are the days when the sole motive for travel was to ‘have fun’ or ‘relax.’ With less than a decade left for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2030, there has been a significant shift in focus to make tourism a driving force for good that not only benefits the ‘traveller’ but also engages and empowers local communities, creates livelihood options, respects and serves the environment, and promotes local cultures.
Strong local communities are a key to a sustainable future. Local communities, local travelling and local experiences are powerful to shape our beliefs and values. It would rather be much beneficial to take a journey to local places and understand the ways of living of the local people. It is true that the local communities are the core of any powerful society.
With the active participation of the local community members of any tourist place, however big or small, there is immense possibility to achieve the sustainability goals and conserve the environment. It also ensures the welfare of local communities.
Thus, powerful local communities help build a sustainable future.
Connecting with the Local: The Power of Social Media
With the increasing power of social media and a digital world, ideas related to sustainable tourism are finding a place in the mainstream media. With the rise in the number of YouTube and other social media platform content creators, the stories of local communities are finding some very powerful platforms for the global audience.
Social media is helping small businesses to find a wider audience base. Local products made in some remote village are finding international buyers, thanks to the power and reach of social media. However, capturing stories, videos and photographs of local people also comes with a lot of responsibility and respect towards their cultures.
Do you think you are a responsible traveller? Think about it!
Read more about community-based tourism and environment conservation in this article written for the GLP Films. The article covered the story of Rushikonda Beach in the South Indian city of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. It exhibits the importance of local communities in promoting sustainable tourism.
