This thesis discusses the concept of community-based tourism (CBT), as an alternative
approach to tourism development. CBT emphasises the central role of local communities in
relation to tourism and places a stronger emphasis on the role of community development
than is evident in other forms of tourism. To date few CBT projects have been successful in
delivering socio-economic benefits for local communities. A review of the relevant tourism
and community development literature indicates that collaborative networks may provide a
viable means of assisting CBT to achieve greater benefits for local communities. The
researcher proposes alternative network configurations and applicable CBT attributes. CBT
has been developed in parts of rural Timor-Leste and offers a potential basis for developing
sustainable forms of tourism. Timor-Leste is an oil dependent fledgling island nation and
advocates of CBT confront a number of challenges. Using a multi-stage qualitative research
approach, the present thesis explores stakeholder perceptions of the potential to establish a
CBT network within Timor. The researcher adopts a constructivist approach to knowledge
and the thesis is informed by critical theory, grounded theory, action research and elements
of Delphi study methodology. It was found that the research participants were in broad
agreement that CBT offers considerable potential for developing sustainable tourism and
that the establishment of a network can address challenges such as lack of knowledge,
funding and marketing. The thesis evaluates the range of research participants’ views about
how the network structure might be developed. The potential CBT model is explored from
the perspectives of neo-liberalism, neo-colonialism, social economy and community
development. The research findings have particular applicability in the case of developing
states, where tourism is only moderately developed.