Does anyone out there have any really good tips about how to engage the local community to be interested in your hostels, know about your hostels, and help to spread the word about hosteling?
11 years
Some hostels have been making short videos that consist of footage of the main desk, kitchen, local attractions, and whatever else there is to offer. It seems like people being able to see what's going on inside and what to expect might help sway the public opinion. On a more local level try contacting the businesses in the neighborhood and building some rapport. Explain how you are bringing more people into the area therefore more potential revenue for them.
11 years
A good way to raise awareness among the local community is to make your hostel beneficial for them. Some ideas:
Maoz from the Fauzi Azar Inn in Israel is a good example to follow. He has gotten quite a bit of attention from the press about his efforts to benefit the local community through his hostel.
For example, Can backpackers solve Middle East's tourism woes?
“I believe the No. 1 beneficiary should be the local community,” he says, having witnessed firsthand the transformative effect of responsible tourism.
From the Responsible Travel blog: The story of Award winner Fauzi Azar Inn and the community of the Old City of Nazareth
Not only does it support the regular staff, but also many satellite businesses such as restaurants, guides, tour companies, laundry services, taxis, internet cafes and many others. A ‘community based guest house’ also raises the self esteem of the local people.
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It gives the local community a chance to make a living while still staying in touch with, and gaining pride in, their own culture. Suddenly people from faraway places are coming to visit those communities and to interact with the local people, bringing not only an economic boost, but also positive energy and hope.
His hostel received the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award for Best Accommodation for Local Communities.
Set in the old town of Nazareth, the largest Arab city in Israel, the opening of the Inn has helped to facilitate interaction between tourists and locals - part of Maoz' goal to transform a neglected area through tourism and promote communication across boundaries of race and religion in the Middle East. The Inn has designed, produced and distributed 50,000 maps of Nazareth to enable exploration of the old town, and organises a free tour experienced by 2,500 people per year.
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