Barriers to Local Residents’ Participation in Community-Based Tourism: Lessons from Houay Kaeng Village in Laos

Abstract

This study aims to identify the barriers to local residents'participation in the process of community-based tourism planning anddevelopment in a developing country. Focusing on the case of Houay KaengVillage in Sayabouly Province, Laos, a qualitative exploratory study wasconducted by adopting in-depth interviews with the various levels oflocal community's members. The key barriers to local communityparticipation identified in this research include: (1) low educationlevels and lack of knowledge about tourism; (2) poor living conditionsand lack of financial support; (3) busy daily routine and lack of timefor tourism participation; (4) local community's perception of tourismas a seasonal business with low income; and (5) power disparities,institutional disincentives and local's distrust in authorities. Theresults suggest that only a small number of the local residents in thevillage were satisfied with their current and on-going participationexpressing their strong willingness to continue in participating in theprocess of tourism planning and development, whereas a large group ofthe residents were not willing to do it at all in the future. The paperfurther discusses implications for the government and communities inregard to community-based sustainable tourism development.