Imperatives for Monitoring and Evaluation of Community-Based Tourism: A Higher Education Institutions Perspective.

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to identify the imperatives for monitoring and evaluation in community based tourism and propose a model highlighting key stakeholder interactions. Only general matters on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are presented while greater focus will be on specific matters related to M&E in community-based tourism (CBT) and the possible roles of higher education institutions in CBT through their community engagement (CE) actions. The study used a documentary analysis method of evaluating policies, guidelines and handbooks as there is limited information relating to empirical studies on M&E of CBT via higher education institutions. The study found that while CBT is monitored, there is inadequate focus on the evaluation of the outcomes and impacts. In addition, higher education institutions need to develop and common understanding of CE and elevate it to one of its core activities. Finally, the reciprocal and mutual relationship amongst communities and higher education institutions could be enhanced through the implementation of a systemic CBT monitoring and evaluation system. The findings are significant for the national and provincial education departments, higher education institutions and local communities since they provides a framework to develop stronger collaborations for sustainable development.

Keywords

• Community-based
• evaluation
• monitoring
• systems
• tourism