Community-based Enterprises as a Sustainable Business Model for Tourism Destination Regeneration

Community-based enterprises (CBEs) represent a sustainable business model where communities act entrepreneurially and cooperatively to establish enterprises that prioritize community goals alongside profit. As such, CBEs can be a viable strategy for regenerating tourism destinations. CBEs can help small local communities retain and attract new residents by building social capital, strengthening social cohesion, and enhancing the community’s quality of life. In this chapter, we present the case of the “Cooperativa di Comunità Valle del Vanoi,” which approached this business model in March 2023. The aim is to shed light on the development of a CBE, unveiling antecedents, development processes, and actual and expected outcomes for sustainability and community development. This case highlights how a CBE business model can serve as a pathway to community revitalization and the development of sustainable tourism strategies.