Community Based Tourism (CBT) Development in Ethnic Community: An Empirical Study on Rajshahi City, Bangladesh

Community Based Tourism (CBT) development in ethnic communities is a participatory approach to tourism that empowers minority groups to manage, benefit from, and preserve their cultural and natural resources. The main objective of the study is to explore the potential of CBT development in Rajshahi City, with a specific emphasis on its ethnic communities. A mixed-methods approach is used as the study methodology. In total, 161 data points are collected from seven communities using a six-point Likert scale, and 27 interviews are conducted beforehand to understand the socio-economic, environmental, visitor-related, social, and regulatory aspects of ethnic communities for CBT development. These aspects are extracted from an extensive literature review. ANOVA and DMRT are conducted using SPSS software. Findings reveal that unique cultural assets and traditional knowledge, economic development, cultural preservation, environmental protection, and regulatory issues serve as a strong foundation for CBT development. In addition, it is observed that respondents express different opinions across destinations. The study also identifies significant challenges and opportunities for CBT development. Despite some drawbacks, community engagement, local governance, and potential collaboration with stakeholders are found to be important for CBT development. Theoretical and practical applications are discussed. This research also provides actionable recommendations to policymakers and tourism practitioners for enhancing inclusive tourism practices, promoting economic upliftment, and preserving the cultural heritage of ethnic communities in Rajshahi City.