"It's a paradigm shift. Sustainability is assured if local residents initiate the projects that will be undertaken by government bodies. They are empowered to take a lead if they don't want investors from far away to bag all the benefits," he said.
"Without clear plans, the locals could be just maids or security guards. So far, our plans have been approved by over 90 per cent of local residents."
Success is based on the well-being and community income indices, introduced in 2013 with help from 18 institutions, as well as the United Nations World Tourism Organisation guidelines.