- 2015
- Research / Study
- Brazil
CBT can improve the well-being of local communities through the generation of economic and social benefits. This study proposes a management model that may be employed to assist local communities develop ventures of this nature. The findings of a study of a relatively successful CBT venture on Marajó Island in the Brazilian Amazon were used in tandem with a review of the literature to build the model based on an action pathway approach.
Semi-structured interviews were employed to identify the sequence of actions that occurred commencing when the CBT venture was first suggested to the present. The results indicate that participation, partnerships, encouragement and acquisition of skills are important elements in developing CBT. The study also found that transfer of ownership from an external actor to the community will only be successful if the community has the required management skills necessary to run the project as a commercial business. The model that emerged from this research has the ability to be widely used to assist communities embarking on CBT ventures.
Pesqueiro Village (Marajó Island) was selected for this research because it is an example of a local community that has become involved in a commercially successful CBT venture but still faces a range of issues related to empowerment and control of the venture. The CBT venture was assisted by three organizations, a privately owned Brazilian tour company located in Sao Paulo and two Brazilian NGOs, Insituto Peabiru and SEBARE. Insituto Peabiru assists the village with training, while SEBRAE promotes sustainable and competitive small business development.
