Mtapuri, OliverGiampiccoli, Andrea2017-02-032017-02-032016Mtapuri, O. and Giampiccoli, A. Towards a comprehensive model of community-based tourism development. South African Geographical Journal. 98(1): 154-168, DOI: 10.1080/03736245.2014.9778130373-6245 (Print)2151-2418 (Online)http://hdl.handle.net/10321/2231Community-based tourism (CBT) offers both opportunities and challenges in the quest for holistic community development. The evolution and development of CBT projects can follow different trajectories. This conceptual paper’s main contribution is the formulation of a comprehensive model of the development of CBT. The model suggests that CBT projects can be initiated from within and outside the community by the private, public and non-governmental sectors or a combination of these using a top-down or bottom-up approach. It also posits that CBT projects can take a formal or informal character depending on the conditions leading to their initiation. The paper highlights the benefits and constraints to the scaling up or down of operations linked to informality. It supports further research in analyzing the various aspects associated with the shift from formality to the informality of CBT projects and vice versa and the relationship with CBT development and holistic community development.16 penCommunity-based tourismTourismInformal economyTourism developmentCommunityArticle10.1080/03736245.2014.977813