A Perspective on Community Based Tourism from South Africa: The TRANSFORM Programme, 1996–2007 - Responsible Tourism: Critical Issues for Conservation and Development - page 81

TRANSFORM has been developing a community-private-public-partnership
model in which it emphasizes the interaction of government, communities and the
private sector. The approach includes the setting up and strengthening of multi-
stakeholder forums, local and regional development frameworks, municipal
involvement and assistance in setting up adequate benefit sharing systems with the
private sector. At a community level, the PPP approach aims at building up strong
local institutions and leadership skills, building up local capacity in a broad
spectrum of themes including business management, administration and marketing.
TRANSFORM's experiences highlight the fact that CBNRM cannot be used
as a panacea and fitted into blue print solutions for alleviating poverty in rural
areas. Each specific site needs to be evaluated in terms of its socioeconomic
context, including the community's capacities to run and operate a tourism enter-
prise, be it on their own or in a partnership with the private sector and the
institutional strength of the CPA. The area's environmental conditions, present
livelihoods and occupations, the potentials and risks of establishing tourism in the
area and each project all need long standing support. Hence partnerships and a
broad base of assistance are required to establish equitable benefit sharing mecha-
nisms. Several examples illustrate that in most cases a partnership with the private
sector is most beneficial for the community in economic terms but also in terms of
establishing strong arrangements which ensure the transfer of skills and capacity
from the private sector to the community.

Notes

1 The authors would like to thank Johannes Baumgart, Michelle Terblache and Harry

Wells for their comments on earlier drafts of this chapter.

2 See annex: Map 1, for a detailed map of the area.

3 See annex: Map 2, for a detailed map of the area.

References

Adams, M., Steyn, L., Tanner, C., Turner, S. and White, R. (2004) 'Case studies on invest-
ment on community land in Southern Africa', Foreign Investment Advisory Services
(FIAS), World Bank Group
Argwal, A. and Gibson, C. C. (1999) 'Enchantment and disenchantment: The role of
community in natural resource conservation', World Development , vol 27, no 4, 629-649
DEAT (1997) 'White paper on the conservation and sustainable use of South Africa´s
biological diversity' , Government Gazette No. 18163, Government Printer, Pretoria,
South Africa
DEAT (2002) National Responsible Tourism Guidelines for South Africa , Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Pretoria, May
Elliffe, S. (1999) 'Guidelines for the release/development of dormant state or community
assets for ecotourism development in the context of community involvement, land
issues and environmental requirements'. Unpublished paper presented at the
Community Public Private Partnerships Conference 16-18 November, Johannesburg