Making Community Engagement Work

Working with local communities does not necessitate complex and costly activities. Practical examples of everyday activities that build win-win partnerships with local communities include:

Supporting the local community

• Purchase locally whenever possible - food, fuel, equipment, souvenirs and services.
• Employ local residents.
• Host community functions.
• Sponsor local events, sporting teams, etc.
• Sponsor local charities or community based organizations.
• Support community group through the provision of clerical and business service support.

Educational partnerships

• Provide work experience opportunities for local residents, particularly students.
• Make specialist equipment or staff expertise available to local groups.
• Speak at local functions and educational institutions.
• Hold ‘open days’ for the community.

Responsible product development and marketing

• Incorporate opportunities for tourists to support local businesses, events or organisations into your products.
• Provide a positive profile of the local community in your interpretive programs and promotional materials.
• Provide locals with regular information updates on your business, photo opportunities and media opportunities.

Best practice

• Lobby for things that will benefit the local community as well as the local tourism industry.
• Use environmentally friendly products or systems to conserve precious local resources.
• Educate your clients on how they can also conserve local resources.
• Incorporate interpretive material on tourism industry ‘best practice’ to encourage visitors to make informed decisions and to purchase accredited tourism products.
• Mentor new entrants to the local tourism industry.

Collaboration and communication

• Undertake direct consultation with the community, especially during planning stages of your business if possible.
• Cooperate with local Protected Area Managers in upgrading visitor facilities used by your clients and the broader community.
• Work with your neighbors (adjoining property landholders) and encourage them to adopt and extend your conservation initiatives on their own properties.
• Provide information on the results of your monitoring systems to other operators and Protected Area Managers.
• If your business refers to an advisory board, ensure the local community is represented.

Infrastructure

Provision of maintenance of:

• Public toilets
• Visitor information centre
• Tourist information
• Maps
• Signage
• Roads
• Public parks and other public spaces

Provision of public facilities on private land and building:

• Walking tracks
• Picnic facilities
• Toilet facilities