Community tourism is a key alternative for preserving the sociocultural authenticity of destinations, empowering local communities, and promoting sustainable development.
In Argentina, various Indigenous initiatives have successfully established tourism models that prioritize self-management and cultural identity. However, avoiding the commodification of their traditions and ensuring that economic benefits directly reach the communities remains a significant challenge.
This article explores successful experiences, challenges, and strategies to strengthen tourism that respects and values the cultural richness of Indigenous peoples.
Community Tourism as a Driver of Local Development
One of the fundamental pillars of community tourism is self-management. In many regions of Argentina, Indigenous communities have taken control of their tourism initiatives to ensure that the activity directly benefits their inhabitants.
Experiences like that of the Puel Community in Villa Pehuenia, Neuquén, demonstrate that this model can be successful. The community has developed a locally managed ski center on the Batea Mahuida Volcano, which not only creates jobs for its youth but also reinforces cultural identity and the relationship with their territory.
Another outstanding initiative is the Lickan Community Rural Tourism Network in Tolar Grande, Salta, formed by Kolla families who have managed to offer authentic experiences centered on local culture and traditions. These initiatives seek to avoid the intermediation of large tour operators, ensuring that economic benefits remain within the community.
The Challenge of cultural commodification
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, one of the main risks community tourism faces is the commodification of culture.
In many cases, tourist demand drives a transformation of traditions to make them more attractive or accessible to visitors, which can lead to a loss of authenticity.
In the Quebrada de Humahuaca, for example, gentrification processes have been identified, making housing more expensive for local residents due to the increasing demand for tourist accommodations.
Tourism and identity: Beyond cultural exhibition
Despite these challenges, community tourism can also be a powerful tool for cultural identity reaffirmation.
In Iguazú National Park, the Mbya Guaraní community has successfully entered the tourism market through the MATE Project (Argentine Model for Tourism and Employment), which promotes the training of Indigenous guides to offer interpretive tours within their territories.
Similarly, in Jujuy, several communities have found in tourism a way to preserve their traditional practices, such as quinoa cultivation and Andean textile production.
These enterprises have been recognized as models of sustainable tourism, where visitors can participate in agricultural activities and learn about the ancestral knowledge of the region.
Strategies for sustainable community tourism
To ensure a tourism development that respects and enhances the sociocultural authenticity of local communities, it is necessary to adopt strategies that balance cultural preservation with economic profitability.
Some key recommendations include:
- Active participation of communities: It is essential that communities take the lead in designing, implementing, and managing tourism projects. This ensures that the activity aligns with their values and needs.
- Diversification of tourism offerings: Avoid limiting activities to folklore-based performances or cultural exhibitions and instead promote immersive experiences that allow visitors to interact genuinely with the community.
- Education and training: Invest in the training of local tour guides, ensuring they can convey their knowledge and traditions in an engaging and rigorous manner.
- Regulation and territorial protection: Guarantee the legal security of Indigenous territories and prevent the misappropriation of their natural and cultural resources by large tourism companies.
- Small-scale, low-impact tourism: Prioritize a responsible tourism model that limits mass tourist influx and minimizes negative impacts on the community and its environment.
Community tourism represents a unique opportunity to foster sociocultural authenticity and sustainable development in local communities. However, for this model to thrive, it is crucial to ensure that communities are the true managers of their initiatives and that economic benefits reach them directly.
Furthermore, it is essential to implement public policies that guarantee the protection of the cultural and natural heritage of these territories.
The challenge lies in finding a balance between economic profitability and identity preservation, avoiding the transformation of cultures into mere tourism products. If this goal is achieved, community tourism can become a fundamental pillar for sustainability and inclusion in the tourism industry.