Strengthening Community-Based Tourism in a new resource-based island nation: Why and how?

A manifestation of early destination development, Community-Based Tourism (CBT) enterprises have been emerging across Timor-Leste as a rural development strategy. In the context of this fledgling and oil revenue dependent nation, CBT enterprises will need to overcome various challenges if they are to fulfil their potential. The present paper explores stakeholder perceptions towards the prospective shape and structure of a nationwide CBT network using a multi-stage qualitative research approach. Respondents broadly agreed that a CBT network can support the development of tourism and help enterprises to confront the challenges of deficient knowledge, funding and marketing, prospectively improving rural livelihoods. The researchers consider neo-colonial, social economy and community development perspectives when applying the prospective CBT model in a resource dependent developing country setting. The success of a CBT network relies on an authoritative funding body and on communications between managers and stakeholders that maintains a balance of power.