THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM IN COLCA VALLEY AND COLCA CANYON

Abstract

The Community-based Tourism is a new tourist modality that is developing in the Andean region of Latin America as alternative to the traditional tourism. This tourist typology permits the conservation of the environment and the participation of the local community in the tourist management of the territory.
The present document analyzes the importance of the Community-based Tourism in Colca Valley and Colca canyon, both located in the region of Arequipa. To justify the present proposal, the concept of Community-based place, include a review of tourism politics guidelines. Secondly, an analysis of the social-economic features of the region that justify and reinforce its use is carried out; next, the tourism destination is examined from territorial perspective and from a traditional analysis of supply and demand. Finally, the results obtained in the first Community-based tourism project developed in the area, are analyzed.