Community-based sustainable tourism

Snapshot Solution

by Katia Herz, Servicio Nacional de Areas Protegidas por el Estado (SERNANP)

Native Community - Amarakaeri Communal Reserve

Ejecutor del Contrato de Administración de la Reserva Comunal Amarakaeri - ECA Amarakaeri Amarakaeri, 2021

Together with Sernanp, ECA Amarakaeri co-manages the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve (RCA) on behalf of Harakbut, Yine and Matsiguenka native communities. They depend on the natural resources and landscape for tourism. However, because of the pandemic, tourism has been reduced and protected areas have suspended visits, affecting related communities as well.

With support from IUCN and Planeterra, Action Plans were developed in five communities, identifying objectives, goals and sustainable tourism activities that complement their economic activities. Activities included the following:

Improve infrastructure for the provision of services.
Strengthen the competencies of service providers.
Consolidate commercial articulation.
Optimize internal management to provide quality services.
Promote the socio-cultural, economic and environmental sustainability of tourism.
Restructure the tourism product for research profiles, conservation, congresses, students, etc.

Last update: 20 Feb 2023

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Context

Challenges addressed

Lack of alternative income opportunities

Lack of infrastructure

Lack of technical capacity

Unemployment / poverty

Scale of implementation

Local

Subnational

Ecosystems

Tropical evergreen forest

Theme

Ecosystem services

Indigenous people

Traditional knowledge

Tourism

Location

Manu, Madre de Dios, Peru

South America

Impacts

The activities have been designed according to the context and needs of each community. Therefore, the impacts are also differentiated. However, it is possible to group them at the organizational, economic and socio-cultural levels.

At the organizational level, at least 15 community members have the capacity to develop sustainable tourism activities in their respective communities; each community has tourism management tools that allow for follow-up and feedback on the services provided. In Puerto Azul Mberohue and Boca Ishiriwe, the self-evaluation of tourism products has made it possible to identify segments (research, work, congresses) to adapt the products offered. In Shintuya, itineraries and tourism products have already been updated on websites.
At the economic level, some communities have made more progress. They have family tourism enterprises that generate economic benefits for those who do not participate in tourism.
At the socio-cultural level, 30 children and adolescents have been sensitized to cultural and natural values through family tourism experiences. In Shintuya, young people have gained access to temporary employment and a common fund for community use has been created from tourism activities.