Social Entrepreneur Corps

Community Based Tourism
“As an outsider with limited knowledge of Spanish, I never could have expected how quickly the immersion process takes place. The nature of the program is carefully designed to promote as much interaction and exchange with Guatemalans as possible so that one can, as I certainly did, have numerous late night conversations with the host-family to really get at the heart of the culture or get carried away with the enthusiasm and passion of one’s fellow Guatemalan ‘colleagues.’”- Anurag K., Duke University, Guatemala

Community Based Tourism is one of the most powerful ways to create direct and indirect jobs in a local economy in the developing world. It creates a source for sustainable income and brings “new money” into communities that often have solely depended on agriculture, artisan product sales, micro credit and remittances. Social Entrepreneur Corps supports community based tourism initiatives. We know this work because we have created them ourselves. We help local initiatives with tour design, production, marketing, human resource support and the like. constituents.

Recent participant contributions:

Lived with homestay families for 28 days in Timbara (Ecuador) generating over $5000 for seven families and supported local restaurant to improve layout, menu and recipes for tourists visiting.

Stayed for 30 days with families in rural areas outside Antigua (Guatemala) and in the northern highlands of Nebaj (Guatemala), generating over $22,000 for 52 families.

Stayed for seven days with families in the rural community of Palmar (Ecuador), generating over $2000 for nine families.

Stayed for three days with families on the island of Ometepe (Nicaragua), generating over $500 for 14 families

Stayed for 17 days with families in Bo-Kaap community (S. Africa), generating over $4300 for 10 families.

Worked with Ecuadorian organization Neo Juventud to develop an online profile that promotes community tourism services such as mangrove tours and provides increased exposure for Neo Juventud’s website.

Met with Guatemalan organization Lema to collect information on products and services offered and posted an online profile that outlines their social impact and informs visitors of how to contact them and make a visit.

Interviewed representatives of local artisans, painters, and guides to create profiles of their work.  They then wrote short articles on the history, challenges, successes and current service and product offerings of artisan organization ADETUR members.

Gave a presentation to Turismo Ixil employees about enhancing customer service. Also helped Turismo Ixil to begin forming alliances and collaborations with other local businesses.

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