Repeasantization and synergy between community-based tourism and family farming

Abstract

Community-based tourism has emerged as a potential element in the pluriactivity strategies of farmers. Its impact on the local economy and population structure has sparked considerable debate. Some case studies have shown that it can contribute to de-peasantization, foster internal conflict or exacerbate socioeconomic disparities. By contrast, other studies suggest that it helps sustain peasant economies in crisis. In such cases, it is usually argued that the income generated from tourism plays a vital role in supporting the financial sustainability of peasant households (i.e. complementarity). However, the present paper asks whether, under certain circumstances, tourism can also drive the development of agricultural activity (i.e. synergy) and, consequently, encourage processes of repeasantization. The conclusion of the present study is that it can and does. That said, the synergy between agritourism and family farming requires two preconditions: 1) both the agricultural resources and the resources available for tourism activity are under the control of the local population; and 2) there exist mechanisms for the collective management of these resources. The paper centres on a comparative study of two rural communities in Latin America: one located in the southern region of the Peruvian Andes, and the other located in southern Costa Rica. The research, which has been ethnographic in nature, took place over a long period of time: three decades and one decade, respectively.