DEFINITION (REST, 1997)
Tourism that takes environmental, social and cultural sustainability into account. It is managed and owned by the community, for the community, with the purpose of enabling visitors to increase their awareness and learn about the community and local ways of life.
Terms used in Thailand: community-based tourism (CBT), community-based ecotourism (CBET), agro-tourism, eco and adventure tourism and homestay
The use of this term in Thailand is complex, confusing and lacks a standardized terminology.
The Responsible Ecological Social Tours Project (REST) pioneered community-based tourism under the name “Community-based tourism-CBT”.