In this edition, we explore several tools and initiatives that promote an inclusive approach to tourism.
Editorial February 5, 2025
Last spring, I had the chance to train in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, on the Activate Program, developed by the Gros Morne Institute in Newfoundland. It was a revelation: I discovered an approach where the community becomes the main actor in tourism development.
This vision resonates with the ABCD (Asset-Based Community Development) method, which values the assets of communities to build sustainable and authentic development. At Touriscope, we embrace the premise of the Activate program, which states that “communities where it is good to live are communities that are good to visit.”
It is in this spirit that we have integrated these tools into several mandates, with significant results. In particular, we have found that this method makes it possible to fully engage the community in identifying the strengths specific to its territory, which then become real differentiating assets. It also promotes the formulation of adapted solutions, rooted in the real needs of residents and the entire tourism ecosystem. However, it requires a change of perspective and requires trust in the process so that the community can bring out what is right for it.
By valuing the unique assets of each territory and by focusing on collective intelligence, we can promote our tourist landscapes in an authentic and sustainable way.
We wish you a stimulating read and, above all, the desire to experiment with these ideas in the field!
Live from Touriscope
.jpg)
The Power of Communities
Why is it so hard to transform communities? Why don't strategies, development plans, and opportunity studies always have the desired impact? Conversely, how do some destinations manage to mobilize around transformative projects?
In our last article, discover the foundations of an approach that promotes community development. It applies to any destination that wants to develop tourism in a thoughtful and coherent way. At Touriscope, we integrate it into our methodologies and, as the saying goes, “trying it is adopting it! ”
Touriscope supports Neguac in its tourism development through the ABCD approach
Last spring, Touriscope applied the ABCD approach to the community of Neguac as part of the program to prepare destinations for the market, developed by ACOA. By focusing on local strengths and assets, this approach made it possible to actively involve residents, strengthen relationships and mobilize existing resources in order to identify actions to be taken for harmonious tourism development.
Thanks to this approach, Neguac was able to highlight its wealth, reveal its profound identity, structure its offer and strengthen its attractiveness by relying on a dynamic driven by the community itself.
This approach will also be applied in the coming months as part of a regional strategy project led by the Acadian Peninsula Regional Services Commission.
Strategic Insights: Tools and Practical Workshops
The Collective Impact Toolbox
The collective impact approach is a collaborative method where various actors in a community come together to address a common issue. This initiative is based on a shared understanding of the problem, a shared vision of change, and a coordinated effort to maximize the effectiveness of interventions.
The Tamarack Institute Collective Impact Toolkit is a resource funded by the Government of Canada. It offers various tools for developing a shared vision, models for structuring collaborative governance, and strategies for measuring the impact of initiatives. These resources help groups develop action plans and build sustainable and resilient collaborative initiatives.
Building Connected Communities in Calgary
The City of Calgary, in collaboration with the Tamarack Institute, has developed a community development toolkit based on the ABCD method to help Calgarians build connected communities. Composed of six interactive modules, this kit offers videos, tools, and downloadable resources designed to support citizens in thinking about their own local context. Each module includes worksheets to explore the ABCD process and develop a plan, program, or activity that highlights community assets.
The topics covered range from creating relationships of trust to identifying and mobilizing local forces. We invite you to consult this kit to better understand this approach!
Window on the World: Innovations and Inspirations
The Upper Bay of Fundy involves its community for a sustainable future
Driven by the involvement of residents through the ABCD method, the development project in the Upper Bay of Fundy region in New Brunswick aims to bring together businesses, governments, non-profit organizations and citizens in order to develop a strategic approach to rural and tourism development. It is 75% funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and 25% by Tourism New Brunswick.
These consultations made it possible to implement concrete actions, such as asset mapping, the integration of digital solutions and the creation of action committees, thus strengthening the local economy and the feeling of community belonging. Discover in this report how this approach shapes sustainable tourism that is rooted in the community.
When Locals Shape Bordeaux's Tourist Future
The Agora for Tourism, a joint initiative of Bordeaux Métropole and the Tourist and Convention Office, is a participatory platform dedicated to the co-construction of sustainable urban and event tourism. Its objective is to involve residents in the definition and implementation of the metropolitan tourism strategy.
Residents are invited to share their perspectives and suggestions on various aspects of local tourism, including through regular studies assessing their perception of tourism and participatory workshops. For example, in April 2024, during a co-construction workshop, 120 participants, including residents, collaborated to think about the adaptation of tourism and event activities in the face of climate and societal changes.
Enlighten, Innovate, Support: The Essence of Our Services
Survey the perception of residents
Residents play an essential role in the tourist experience of a destination, as hosts and ambassadors. To understand their perception of the tourism industry, many destinations conduct surveys of their population. For example, the Ministry of Tourism conducted a Survey on the perception of Quebecers concerning tourism in their region. Consequently, Touriscope conducted this type of survey for the South East New Brunswick Regional Services Commission and Vaudreuil-Soulanges Development. We also led two discussion groups with residents for Tourisme Montréal.
These consultations assess the impact of tourism on the quality of life of residents and identify the issues to be considered. They also guide strategies towards balanced and sustainable tourism development. This approach is perfectly in line with the ABCD method, which values community assets and resources for harmonious development. By integrating the perspectives of residents and drawing on local strengths, destinations can co-build tourism that respects the community, ensuring sustainable growth that benefits all.
Use our services...
POSTED
2/6/2025