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Planeterra

Africa & the Middle East

Community Tourism in Africa & the Middle East

Community Tourism across Africa and the Middle East reflects an extraordinary diversity of cultures, landscapes, and traditions, from Indigenous communities and wildlife conservancies to women-led cooperatives and cultural enterprises. Tourism has long been one of the region’s most important industries, yet its impact hasn’t always reached local communities equally.

Every destination is different, but the goal is the same: tourism that reflects what communities want for themselves.

Community Tourism in Action

Here, Community Tourism often includes:

Wildlife conservation

Indigenous and cultural heritage experiences

Women-led tourism enterprises

Traditional food experiences

Artisan cooperatives

Youth employment programs

Women-led tourism enterprises

Regional Network at
a Glance

25

Countries

118

Community Tourism enterprises in the Network

14

Community Tourism enterprises reporting Planeterra support for environmental protection

2,165

People Engaged in the Network, Accessing Learning Resources, Webinars, and Opportunities to Strengthen their Work

15

New Community Tourism Enterprises Connected to Tourism Markets in 2025

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