Africa Leads in Civic Engagement – Unlocking Potential for Community-Based Tourism

Opportunities for Community-Based Tourism in Africa

Frankfurt am Main, August 18, 2025 – According to the pan-African opinion research institute Afrobarometer, Africa holds a globally leading position in civic and political participation. Nowhere else are people as actively involved in decision-making, committed to their communities, and engaged in representing their interests. This high level of participation offers enormous potential – particularly in the field of community-based tourism.

Tourism can only be truly sustainable if the local population is actively involved and benefits directly. This is especially true for cultural tourism, which is rooted in the stories, traditions, and identities of local people. An authentic and respectful representation of cultural heritage is only possible if the community itself maintains control over its culture and how it is portrayed.

Self-Determined Cultural Representation in Uganda

A vivid example of community-based initiative is the Ewaffe Cultural Village in Uganda. Located near Kampala, the project invites visitors to experience Ugandan culture first-hand – through music, dance, crafts, and traditional cooking – all under the guidance of local artists and cultural practitioners.

“Ewaffe strengthens our community by turning culture into economic opportunities – through income from tourism, craft training, and local entrepreneurship,” explains Aisha Nabwanika, founder and CEO of Ewaffe Cultural Village. “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. With creative forms of expression and community-designed experiences, we foster pride, education, and inclusive growth.”

The site is not only a tourist attraction but also a place of learning and a social hub that offers young people prospects and strengthens cultural identity.

Participatory Tourism Approaches in Angola

Promising, participatory models are also emerging in Angola: In the south of the country, tour operators work with various communities, where ethnic groups such as the Himba and Kuvale actively shape tourism. Revenues are fairly distributed by village elders so that as many families as possible benefit, while traditional ways of life are reinforced.

Another example is the historic Bairro Samaria in the Tumpo Triangle, where the village community has set up an eco-tourism campsite for visitors. The jobs and income generated remain in the region – a model example of participatory tourism.

“Africa shows that civic engagement and cultural self-determination are closely linked,” says Hanna Kleber, founder of Voice4Africa. “We see enormous potential that can be unlocked through well-designed community tourism – for the people on the ground, and also for travelers seeking genuine encounters and deeper travel experiences.”

Community-based tourism is more than a buzzword – it is a necessary development to make tourism in Africa inclusive, fair, and future-proof. On a continent driven by civic engagement, community-based tourism can be a catalyst for sustainable development, cultural empowerment, and economic participation.

Photo Credit Header Photo: (left) (c) Thomas Thadewaldt/DIAMIR, in Angola (right) (c) Ewaffe Cultural Village, Uganda