Community-Based Tourism in Brazil: The Turisol Network

In her article on the Brazilian network "Turisol", Cecilia Zanotti shows that community-based tourism development helps to distribute the benefits of tourism among local communities. The Brazilian Network on Solidarity and community-based tourism (Rede Brasileira de Turismo Solidário e Comunitário – "Turisol") was founded in 2003.

Recently, it has been getting government support in order to pursue its objectives of facilitating the exchange of experiences and 'best practice' among communities and to encourage the development of tourism for the communities, by the communities. The activities of the network include training programmes, joint marketing initiatives and lobbying. There are plans to increase the number of members from nine to 50 by 2010.