Empowering Communities Through Community-Based Tourism: A Systematic Review of Local Involvement and Communication Role on its Implementation

Abstract

Community-Based Tourism (CBT) refers to tourism activities that involve local communities in their planning and execution. Nevertheless, the initiatives face various challenges in attaining sustainability and effectiveness due to limited resources, knowledge and communication. This study seeks to answer the question: What is the role of local involvement and communication in implementing CBT? The current study employs a systematic literature review (SLR) method and reviews 99 peer-reviewed studies published between 2014 and 2024 on Scopus and Web of Science databases. The findings revealed that the local community's active participation in planning, management and operational roles boosts economic benefits and social unity by creating a sense of ownership. Communication between stakeholders (community, government, NGOs) is essential for comprehending and implementing the intended goals. The study concludes that local participation and inclusive communication are critical to CBT's long-term sustainability. It recommends adopting structured communication channels and capacity-building programs to refine stakeholder collaboration in future CBT projects.