Our project aims to develop sustainable tourism that allows visitors to help protect local nature. Conservation succeeds only when the whole community participates.
Before tourism created employment, people looking for work usually had to emigrate. New jobs closer to home mean fewer residents need to leave.
Cycling, horse riding, hotels, restaurants, mountaineering and trekking are creating activity. We divide profits into three shares: one for the people doing tourism work, one reinvested in the project office and one for the wider community.
People who live with this land understand its needs best, so community members—not distant officials—should lead its tourism and conservation projects.
The community selects both men and women for tourism jobs. Everyone receives education about nature and environmental stewardship, although we still need stronger training in languages, hospitality and other tourism skills.
Income can help families send children to school. Some may eventually become guides speaking French or English and offer visitors a deeper experience.
Agriculture remains difficult. Farmers depend on middlemen rather than selling directly, so producer prices have fallen while living costs rise. Tourism should complement farming rather than increase economic dependence.
Government investment in promotion has been limited. We want the freedom and resources to manage projects locally instead of relying on national programmes whose money rarely reaches communities.
Tourism income matters, but community control determines whether that income protects water and nature or simply passes through.
Tourism has renewed attention to water and conservation. Without action, drinking water may become scarce within a few years. Visitors’ interest also helps us rediscover neglected sites and traditions.
Telephone lines, computers, internet and fax services have arrived alongside tourism, providing infrastructure useful to everyone.
We ask visitors to rest and acclimatise before beginning tours. Altitude sickness can spoil a journey and create avoidable danger.
Come prepared to spend time with us: our community is working to make tourism support education, livelihoods and the nature we intend to manage ourselves.