Poverty alleviation and community empowerment through ecotourism a case study in colombia juan camil

Poverty alleviation and community empowerment through ecotourism: A Case Study in Colombia.

North Colombia Urabá–Darién

Fuente: www.posadasturisticasdecolombia.com

Back in 2007 The Colombian Government and United Nations on Drugs and Crime started the Guardagolfo Program in the frame of the paramilitary forces demobilizations in the area. The aim of the program was to bring productive alternatives to communities besides of drug trafficking and war.

Fuente: http://www.guardagolfo.com.co/pesca-artesanal/

Local communities We identified more than 100 families interested in ecotouristic projects.

The program involved handicrafts, fishery and crops including in total more than 500 families in all Urabรก Gulf.

Value chain

El Carlos Archaeological and Ecotourist Center

Ecotourism Center Posadas del RĂ­o

Ecotourism Center Playa Canรก

Guardagolfo Inclusive: Indigenous communities, afrocolombian, farmers, women, young people, demobilized and community in general were involved.

Associative.

Technical support and capacity building.

Tourism for local sustainable development

The impacts and benefits of tourism multiply if the local communities are directly involved as administrators of their own tangible and intangible resources.

An endogenous local development allows communities to care more about conservation of natural and cultural resources.

Tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation This productive activity, provides an alternative income to the families directly involve, and boost economy at a local and regional level.

The government subsidies in this case were invested in a project and the process was guided by an international organization which assure an strategic investment and resources efficiency.

Integral assesment for empowerment Capacity building - strengthening individual and collective abilities

Collective decisions and participation

Personal, collective and territorial identity

Social change The process have been changing as people does.

Leaderships, knowledge and abilities acquisition, women empowerment; all good assets to strengthen communitarian bonds.

Tourism as a tool for social empowerment Through the ecotouristic activities people value their own culture, food, history.

An associative, solidarity and collaborative work among communities, foster values, respect, self-esteem; strengthen identity, networks and bonds.

Tourism as a tool for peacebuilding Peace building is a complex process and the relation between peace and tourism could be diverse. If there is no peace and security, tourism is not possible. But tourism could offer opportunities to locals in places were war and illegal activities were held?

How has ecotourism empowered local communities and how can the use of sustainable tourism indicators contribute?

Colombian DariĂŠn and the UrabĂĄ Region Case

Community-based ecotourism proposal through participative planning in San Bernardo del Viento, Córdoba (Colombia)

• 3 different communities • Workshops • Building strategies • Results Fuente: Camila Abad

What are sustainable tourism indicators?

Information mesured through time that is strategic to the sustainability of a destination, responding to it’s concerning issues and key risks.

Community development

Environment

Social

Economic

Cultural

Management

Why use indicators?

Better decision-making

They are fundamental part and tool of destination planning and management

Identification of emerging issues and impacts Mesures performance through time Help monitor and control changes Define limits and opportunities

UNODC Monitoring and registration of data In 2010

In 2012

 132 direct beneficiaries from ecotourism

 263 indirect beneficiaries (family members) from ecotourism

 79 women and 53 men  Most of them:  afrocolombian minorities

 34 ecotourism training programs in diferent areas

 demobilized groups  violence displaced groups.

 258 total participants

And all of the measurements are quantitative !

Fuente: UNODC

But it’s valuable information to take in consideration…

2011 ORGANIZATION TOTAL SALES 1 ASECOTUC 9865 USD 2 PLAYA CANA 10593 USD 3 ECORISANTRI 4242 USD 4 COOTUCAR 15021 USD

Iracas de Belén

Luis Enrique Salas: Guardagolfo associate.

What impacts are noticable in Luis Enrique’s life?

Empowerment Creating new opportunities in life Learning and increasing selfconfidence Feeling loved and having family support

Belonging in a community or group Working in a legal and honest environment Feeling of being useful

Qualitative information is as important to assure that tourism is sustainable !

In the Colombian DariĂŠn and UrabĂĄ region, ecotourism has been a tool for empowering communities and people like Luis Enrique

Sustainable economic alternative Empowerment

Preservation of culture and nature Strengthening social networks Improving personal and entrepreneurial skills Creating identity and the sense of community belonging Increasing confidence and feeling of being proud Active decision making at community level

How to make sure that indicators are helping to aim for a sustainable tourism and community empowerment?

Active community participation in every stage

In line with sustainability goals and objectives

Adapt to each destination

Respond to key issues of the community

Consistent through time

Easy to use and understand

Measure quantitative and qualitative information

How will indicators contribute to the empowerment of these tourism involved communities in the DariĂŠn-UrabĂĄ Region?

Have a higher degree of control and understanding of their tourism activities

Focus on improving thier weaknesses and fix key sustainability issues

Make better decisions and decrease risks

Use results to look for financial aids and strategic projects

Conclusions

Thank you!

Thank you!

Natalia Naranjo naranjo@ca-latam.com (+57) 315 366 9407

Juan Camilo Saavedra juancamilosaadom@gmail.com (+57) 312 541 8126

http://ca-latam.com/ http://www.guardagolfo.com.co/

Images http://www.guardagolfo.com.co/ http://ca-latam.com/

http:// www.posadasturisticasdecolombia.gov.co/destino.p