Building Community Capacity for Tourism Development in Transitional Countries : Case of Kosovo

This study highlights the importance and explores the contributions of community capacity building (CCB) to achieving a sustainable tourism. Community capacity building is extensively recognized as a significant tourism development tool, which if implemented properly can contribute in community development and prosperity. In order to be able to create new successful strategies on building capacities of communities related to tourism, often is required to investigate existing problematic issues and to create a clear picture of the current state of community capacities and all related community capacities pertaining to tourism development in particular region. Community capacity building not only represents a step toward creating a sustainable tourism industry, but it is an essential ingredient for the overall development of the community. Tourism development and capacity building, within the communities where tourism is seen as a community opportunity, are closely linked and need to evolve and prosper simultaneously. It is important the fact that CCB programs help communities to increase their capability to contribute in the tourism decision-making processes, rather than being a spectator on its own playground. Especially the developing countries and regions, in particular rural and peripheral regions, benefit the most from the CCB. They inspire community participation in tourism development, and through CCB the communities gain the tools that empower them to do so. This paper attempts to examine the impact of the community capacity development in tourism development in transition countries