This case study was written as a contribution to a project on ‘pro-poor tourism strategies.’ The case studies used a common methodology to review the operations of tourism operators in a number of locations in developing countries.

 The focus of this study is the Namibian Community-based Tourism Association (NACOBTA). It is a membership-based association of community-based tourism enterprises (CBTEs) found in relatively poor communities, which aims to incorporate pro-poor tourism in the mainstream tourist industry. The association provides support to its members by way of grants, loans, marketing, training and organisational development, and also represents its members’ interests in policy development at the national level and in negotiations with the mainstream tourist industry.