Evaluating participation in community-based tourism: a local perspective in Laos

摘要

This study aims to understand how local community members viewed and evaluated the success of a community-based tourism (CBT) project implemented in Laos. The study identified three distinctive groups according to levels of participation and responsibilities adopted, namely active participation, passive participation, and non-participation. The findings suggest that there are mixed perceptions and evaluations of equal participation among community members. The active participation group was mainly comprised of community leaders, exhibited high levels of participation, including in the decision-making process, and thus positively evaluated their participation and the success of the CBT project in their village. However, the great majority of community members were in the passive participation and non-participation groups, seldom participated in the project, and were sceptical of future CBT projects, as the current project appeared to be based on unequal participation from the very beginning.