The growth in community-based tourism

Tourism within communal conservancies is a dynamic and growing sector of the national tourism industry, helping to distinguish Namibia as a destination committed to conservation and community-development objectives. The potential for community-based tourism was enabled by the Namibian government’s visionary amendment of the Nature Conservation Act of 1975, which in1996 returned rights over resource use and management of tourism to communities by enabling the establishment of conservancies.

             Damaraland camp is jointly owned by Wilderness Safaris and Torra Conservancy


At the heart of tourism in communal conservancies are joint venture partnerships with private sector business partners that develop and manage lodges. These relationships are formalised through the creation of joint venture (JV) agreements. These partnerships are critical to the growth and development of the tourism sector and the local economy. They reflect the concept of Nature Tourism, namely: responsible travel to natural areas, which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people.

Joint-venture (JV) lodges are an important engine of economic growth in those communal conservancies that are suitable for tourism. They provide direct income to conservancies, which enables them to pay the salaries of game guards and management staff, and for conservation management activities including the prevention of poaching. Income from JV lodges is also allocated as benefits in cash to conservancy members or as social projects in the area. Lodges, and to a lesser extent camp sites, also employ conservancy staff and facilitate the sale of local products, for example crafts.


Specialist articles relating to livelihoods: Communities benefit from their conservancies Delivering on the promise of conservancies through benefit distribution Diversifying income with Wildlife Credits Guarding conservation hunting benefits from international pressure Livelihoods in King Nehale conservancy Unlocking value in natural resources

Comments

  1. Toby blogs Men, mental health, lifestyle1 April 2024 at 03:07

    Highly appreciate the information, makes so much sense

    ReplyDelete
  2. Napandulwe Paavo1 April 2024 at 14:12

    Partnership is important to the growth and development

    ReplyDelete
  3. Napandulwe Paavo1 April 2024 at 14:52

    It's a privilege to help us with this

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anatolia Shambalula2 April 2024 at 01:29

    Always, togetherness and partnership build strong foundation that help to enhance growth and development .Continue sharing we would like to know more

    ReplyDelete
  5. Napandulwe Paavo2 April 2024 at 14:25

    Cohesion and partnership

    ReplyDelete

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