COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM: THE CASE OF THE BUTRINT NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH ALBANIA

Abstract

The concept of Community Based Tourism (CBT) has been a further development within the sustainable tourism approach. Drawing from the theories and practice of participatory development, it specifically focuses on the impact tourism may have on local communities with the aim of maximizing benefits in terms of jobs, wealth, and support for local culture and industry, and protection of the built and natural environment. Thus the challenge is to put local communities at the center of tourism initiatives and supports in an effort to create win-win solutions concerning the management of tourism destinations. CBT is planned with the goal of preserving local natural and cultural assets, so that both residents and visitors may benefit from the tourism experience. Dealing with culture and sustainable development should be done within the objective of promoting sustainable development in the region and conserve the Butrint National Park (BNP), by engaging surrounding communities in the development of community-based tourism products and services. The underlying assumption of intervention is that CBT assists in the conservation of BNP’s cultural and natural values by demonstrating the Park’s potential to the local communities in order to generate sustainable economic activities.Sustainable; Ecotourism; Community Based Tourism;