Rethinking Community-Based Tourism for Sustainable Development: Evidence from Jaflong, Bangladesh
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This study examines the potential of community-based tourism (CBT) as a pathway to sustainable development in Jaflong, Bangladesh, an ecologically sensitive and culturally diverse destination, where the uneven participation of different community groups remains insufficiently examined. It critically investigates how community participation, empowerment, and governance structures shape tourism development outcomes, with a particular focus on the disparities between the general population and the indigenous Khasia community. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, integrating thematic analysis of 30 stakeholder interviews with descriptive analysis of survey data from 160 judgementally selected community members, comprising 80 respondents from the general community and 80 from the Khasia community. Findings reveal a general willingness to engage in tourism, but highlight stark inequalities in participation, benefit-sharing, and decision-making. The Khasia community remains largely excluded from economic and political empowerment, despite experiencing some psychological gains. Governance challenges, including fragmented planning, weak coordination, and unregulated resource extraction, further hinder sustainability. Drawing on Arnstein’s Ladder of Participation, Scheyvens’ empowerment framework, and the collaborative planning framework of Getz and Jamal, the study proposes a context-specific CBT framework to promote equitable development. This research contributes to the tourism and development literature by showing that CBT’s sustainability depends not only on community involvement, but also on inclusive power-sharing, institutional support, and long-term governance reform. The proposed framework offers practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners seeking to promote more inclusive and sustainable tourism development in culturally and environmentally sensitive destinations.
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