Community-Based Tourism (CBT) is a bottom-up approach to sustainable development
used in developing countries to enhance the conservation of natural resources, preserve
traditional culture, and generate income at the local level. The study aims to understand
the effectiveness of community associations for CBT development in developing
countries. Ghana is selected as the primary case of this study. Published data on CBT
associations in Namibia, Uganda, Kyrgyzstan and Costa Rica are used as supporting cases
of the study. The research was conducted primarily, using library resources, in
combination with fieldwork conducted by the author. The findings describe a vicious
circle of poverty in Ghana’s CBT development as well as describe successes and
challenges of supporting cases. It is clarified that the studied CBT associations have
played a significant role in creating networks and making linkages among the various
stakeholders involved. Further, these efforts increase the possibility of expanding CBT
benefits to the whole country, especially by creating interaction with governmental
agencies. However, obtaining a sustainable funding source for their activities is still a
great challenge, facing the associations. The study concludes that the establishment of
CBT associations can solve some of the problems identified as limiting Ghana’s CBT
development. In particular, CBT associations could be useful for enhancing collaboration
among stakeholders. Unfortunately, the study could not identify any concrete solutions
for the many financial issues which many developing countries face. An empirical study
on introducing microfinance or other soft loan system to CBT associations could be a
valuable subject for further studies.