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El turismo comunitario indigena, debería obedecer a un proceso de reflexión que requiere de un seguimiento y planificación adecuada para que las comunidades locales, puedan realmente aprovechar los beneficios de esta actividad económica y reducir al máximo los impactos negativos, que puede conllevar esta actividad.

El turismo sostenible concilia principios como la preservación de un medio natural, el desarrollo de la comunidad local y el desarrollo económico, por ello es un sistema complejo que necesita ser analizado bajo las particulares condiciones de cada comunidad, región o país.

El desarrollo sostenible del turismo exige la participación informada de todos los agentes relevantes, así como un liderazgo político firme para lograr una colaboración amplia y establecer un consenso. Los efectos sociales, culturales y económicos del turismo en una comunidad anfitriona están intrincadamente unidos. Es posible que algunas comunidades tradicionales, como los indígenas, no deseen en absoluto compartir su cultura con los turistas, mientras que comunidades rurales y agrícolas quizá ni siquiera entiendan qué interés puedan sentir los turistas por su forma de vivir. Aun así, en un mundo cada vez más globalizado, resulta prácticamente imposible para ninguna comunidad permanecer totalmente aislada de las visitas en sitios de atractivo turísticos y del impacto que este intercambio genera.

Aceptar el desarrollo económico que resulta del turismo, implica afrontar cambios culturales que acompañan al desarrollo mismo. Tal vez, esto ocurra sin que la comunidad tenga oportunidad de decidir si realmente quiere cambiar y cómo hacerlo; por esto, para cualquiera sea su tipología (etnoturismo, turismo rural, comunitario) genere un desarrollo sostenible, un verdadero ecoturismo; sin duda alguna hace falta una planificación previa por etapas, donde existan objetivos comunes, discutidos y reflexionados por las comunidades receptoras.

Indigenous community-based tourism should follow a process of reflection that requires follow-up and adequate planning so that local communities can really take advantage of the benefits of this economic activity and reduce to a minimum the negative impacts that this activity can have.

Sustainable tourism reconciles principles such as the preservation of the natural environment, the development of the local community and economic development, which is why it is a complex system that needs to be analyzed under the particular conditions of each community, region or country.

Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to achieve broad collaboration and establish consensus. The social, cultural and economic effects of tourism on a host community are intricately linked. Some traditional communities, such as indigenous people, may not wish to share their culture with tourists at all, while rural and agricultural communities may not even understand how tourists may be interested in their way of life. Still, in an increasingly globalized world, it is virtually impossible for any community to remain totally isolated from visits to tourist attractions and the impact that this exchange generates.

Accepting the economic development that results from tourism implies facing cultural changes that accompany the development itself. Perhaps, this happens without the community having the opportunity to decide if and how to change; therefore, for any type of tourism (ethno-tourism, rural tourism, community tourism) to generate sustainable development, a true ecotourism, there is no doubt that a previous planning by stages is needed, where there are common objectives, discussed and reflected upon by the hosting  communities

In 2005, the Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC (AtBC) completed the development of its Aboriginal Cultural Tourism Blueprint Strategy (Blueprint Strategy). With the support of the Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia, it began implementing the Blueprint Strategy in 2006. It focused on strengthening and growing the Aboriginal cultural tourism industry in BC through three thematic tiers of activity that focused on: 1) Building awareness of cultural tourism opportunities; 2) Supporting product development through skills training, partnerships, and market readiness initiatives; and 3) Promoting products through a range of targeted marketing and communications programs.
This report provides insights into Aboriginal tourism’s performance between 2006 and 2012, and describes those AtBC strategic initiatives that have been especially influential in supporting this emergent sector’s development. It also provides perspectives on prospects for Aboriginal tourism growth as expressed by current operators, travel trade representatives and broader tourism industry partners.