Community solidarity tourism in Bolivia
Community solidarity tourism in Bolivia is a socioeconomic activity that strives to enhance the cultural, natural, social and historical heritage of the local communities, which they they then share in an organised way with domestic and foreign visitors. Community solidarity tourism is developed within the framework of an organization set up by the members of one or more indigenous rural communities, in a given region, according to a solidarity-based approach and with a fairer and more equitable distribution of the benefits, based on self-management and the sustainable use of resources, as well as promoting local economic development.
Each Community Solidarity Tourism Company (Emprendimientos de Turismo Solidal Comunitarios, ETSC) defines its own management model based on its own customary and organisational methods, according to the following principles.
Organization
The community participates directly in the tourism activities according to a self-management business model (ETSC), based on the organized voluntary participation of the members in providing the tourism services.
Environment
The organized community strives to achieve the responsible and sustainable use of the local natural resources, to enhance the scenic heritage and biodiversity. The community shares and applies this approach by way of sustainable production activities, including community-based solidarity tourism.
Culture
The community-based organization promotes the local cultural identity by raising awareness among its members and visitors about how the historical and cultural heritage can be appreciated and preserved. Community-supported tourism allows people to empower themselves with a local culture and history that prioritises people and provides opportunities for development with gender and generation equity.
Economy
Community solidarity tourism enterprises build up, among their members, the capacity to manage their economic resources autonomously and transparently; they strive to increase the income of the local households, creating employment and then democratically distributing the benefits among the members to promote community development; they make use of and promote locally sourced products and services, ensuring that the profits are clearly perceived by the community.
Social solidarity
The community, organized according to a community solidarity tourism enterprise, fosters the development of new individual and collective capabilities, within the rural and indigenous communities involved: leaders with environmental and socio-economic knowledge that can be put to good use in the governance of their areas. The system promotes intercultural and educational encounters that improve the local human capital and strengthen social solidarity.
Quality
Quality is achieved when a solidarity tourism enterprise of rural or indigenous communities provides tourism services with timely and honest information and hospitality, health and safety to visitors, delivering the authentic yet pleasant experiences that travellers seek.
