Local involvement in tourism is recognised as an indispensable condition for sustainable tourism. Optimal local involvement and the attendant benefits are achieved through consistent and deliberate actions to engage local people in every stage of tourism development, from opportunity identification to concept to operation. It is founded upon acknowledging and engaging locals as active partners and co-creators of tourism, as opposed to passive beneficiaries. Meaningful local involvement requires that local partners participate in co-reading of the tourism landscape, co-design and co-management of participatory planning, joint decision-making on implementation, and co-management of operations. Shared value creation should underpin planning for local involvement and partnerships, and the delivery thereof should be the yardstick of success. This chapter provides guidance on conceptualising, planning and delivering optional local involvement in tourism and partnership development. It contains a series of tools and examples of good practice; highlights the challenges to local involvement and provides links to more detailed resources.
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