Tourism is developed and managed by local people. This ensures decisions reflect shared priorities and that control and responsibility remain within the community.
Tourism creates wider positive impacts for the community, including improved infrastructure, services and economic opportunities. These benefits are distributed fairly, enhancing overall quality of life.
Tourism experiences genuinely reflect community culture, traditions and way of life. This helps preserve local identity while offering visitors a more meaningful and respectful connection to the place.
Local people are actively involved in shaping how tourism develops and how their area is represented. Their perspectives, needs and concerns are listened to and influence decision-making.
The foundations of Community Tourism UK were laid in July 2025, following the first national conference on community-led tourism held in York. This landmark event brought together existing networks from across the UK to explore a new vision for tourism rooted in local needs, values and aspirations.
The conference, hosted by Good Organisation, and supported by the Institute for Social Justice, was underpinned by a strong collective commitment to continued collaboration. It led directly to the creation of a national network, bringing together groups from all four nations with a shared ambition to advance a more equitable visitor economy.
Less than a year later, Community Tourism UK was formally launched as a national alliance at a knowledge exchange event in Glasgow on 5th March 2026, hosted by SCOTO (Scottish Community Tourism Network).
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Telephone: 07900 995607E-mail: mail@communitytourism.uk
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