Lessons on various fronts like hardware ( building homestays etc) , institution building , capacity building of communities marketing etc used for community based tourism in Himachal by Ecotourism planner Mr. Ankit Sood !

1. Lessons in Community Based
Tourism from the Past
A N K I T S O O D

2. Hardware
 Activities of hardware should start at least 1 year after the software
portion has been done so that the need is felt from community &
practical experience on ground instead of the existing top down
approach.
 Home-stays are critical but community managed campsites &
ancillary accommodation units ( eg Hoodka, Gujrat) would also be
ideal at some project sites.
 Tourist Reception Centers do not bring money but a small facility
with rooms/ tents serving local food does.
 The art of building in stone is ideal rather than introducing
concrete structures or spoiling vernacular architecture which only
specialized architects would know. Unearth what exists should be
the mantra !

3. Site Management
 Enthusiasm, interest & ownership by the DC / Top
Management (convergence) & the DTDO is a must
in the driving of the project along with the NGO who
should demonstrate its full commitment especially to
the community.
 Issue of self Sustenance of the project beyond
project period & NGO involvement is critical –
Sustainability & Exit plan a must.

4. Capacity Building
 Process of Selection of NGO/ implementing agency is critical which
does not fit present ADB rules.
 Two Week orientation program on participatory planning leading to
sustainability with an exposure to gender issues is a must for
everybody ( IDIPT, NGO ) to come on a common ground.
 The rural tourism project is not about how many activities were
undertaken , skill programs delivered but about participation ,
process and the output especially achieving equity.
 Emphasis should also be laid on what can go wrong in tourism
especially with carrying capacity both environmentally & culturally.

5. Institution Building
 CDMO – promoting business model which is
sustainable but the panchayat members should
preferably be part of the cooperative.
 A part of the revenues beyond a ceiling must go to the
general welfare of the villagers for even those who are
not participating.
 Individual entrepreneurs/ SHG’s should have their own
business plan which require handholding & should be
linked to the financial institutions to sustain the project.

6. Institution Building ( contd. )
 Capacities of the institutions not only to handle tourists
but to handle the district authorities , tourist service
providers etc.
 Its important the institution has seed money( working
capital) of their own as its money from the poor and is
big according to them leading to greater interest in the
project. Hence the voice will come from within and act as
a vigilant body.
 All villages/ clusters have to be integrated in a circuit to
become a part of the network to have an economy of
scale & look into wider things like marketing .

7. Lessons to be learnt ……..
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 Have site and product specific marketing tools.
 Word of Mouth Marketing is the most important.
 Certification and Standardization is an important part of the
project and can be possibly projected as a marketing edge.
 THANK-YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR BECOMING A
PART OF OUR DREAM TO IMPLIMENT CBT.
IDIPT-HP, Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Himachal Pradesh

8. Joys of Homestay
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IDIPT-HP, Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Himachal Pradesh