What is a CBTA (Community Based Travel Activity)? For business and leisure travelers alike.
At Adventure Apes, we believe that travel should go beyond exploration and adventure; it should create lasting bonds and leave a positive, tangible impact on the communities we visit.
Therefore, we have developed a Community Based Travel Activity (CBTA) that embodies this philosophy, combining elements of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with an immersive community-centered experience. CBTA is designed to foster meaningful social connections, empower local communities, and ensure that visitors and locals alike benefit from every interaction.
Please note, that even though CBTA is originally designed from CSR activities, it is a great way to experience and participate for regular leisure travelers and adventurers, too. Anyone can make an impact, if they want to. We highly recommend participating in a CBTA!
The essence of a CBTA is simple: it’s a travel-based initiative where any traveler can engage in activities that support local communities directly, and by that get an unforgettable experience for themselves, too.
Unlike traditional CSR activities, which can sometimes be more transactional, CBTAs are about shared experiences, reciprocal learning, and building genuine relationships that contribute positively to both visitors and the community.
Each activity is carefully crafted to address specific local needs, support community well-being, and promote cultural exchange. This approach makes CBTAs highly impactful, transforming travel into an experience that contributes to a greater social good.
Adventure Apes highly recommends you to use public transportation to get to your CBTA which is not only environmentally friendly but also gives you a chance to explore the daily life of locals.
One option is to participate on a Guided Sauna and Swimming tour in the Sauna Capital of the World: Tampere. In this activity Adventure Apes guide will guide you through an unforgettable sauna and swimming experience but also teaches you how you can enjoy this activity on your own later on, together with locals!
The core of the CBTA – What is a Community Based Travel Activity made of?
Point 1: Community Involvement and Empowerment
CBTAs are developed in collaboration with local communities, ensuring that each activity aligns with the community's needs, values, and priorities. By actively involving locals in planning and execution, Adventure Apes ensures that CBTAs are mutually beneficial. Community members are not only recipients but active participants, sharing their skills, stories, and insights with visitors.
This approach empowers communities by providing economic support, developing skills, and encouraging self-sufficiency. For example, a CBTA may involve travelers joining local artisans in crafting workshops, where the artisans teach traditional methods while gaining a broader market through the travelers’ network, or travelers could take a part on a local community effort towards a social cause.
Point 2: Focus on Social Connection and Cultural Exchange
A hallmark of Adventure Apes’ CBTA is its emphasis on creating social bonds and fostering cross-cultural connections. CBTAs are structured around activities that bring people together, encouraging conversation, mutual respect, and an understanding of diverse perspectives.
These activities, such as preparing traditional meals together, sharing stories of family heritage, or engaging in hands-on cultural traditions, bridge the gap between visitor and local, offering a personal and immersive experience that goes beyond sightseeing. In this way, CBTAs foster a sense of community and friendship that lasts long after the activity ends.
Point 3: Positive Social Impact and Support for Local Needs
CBTAs are tailored to meet the specific social needs of the community, whether it’s combating loneliness, providing assistance to elderly or disabled individuals, or promoting educational initiatives for youth. Adventure Apes takes a careful approach to understanding each community’s unique challenges and designing activities that directly support these areas.
For instance, one CBTA may involve travelers joining a local gardening project that supplies fresh produce, while another may engage visitors in community clean-ups or environmental restoration projects that promote sustainable living. This ensures that CBTAs are not just short-term solutions but contribute to the long-term social and economic well-being of the community.
Point 4: Economic Benefits with a Local Focus
An essential aspect of CBTAs is supporting the local economy. The main idea is to source all materials and services as locally as possible, ensuring that funds are reinvested within the community. This might include purchasing supplies for activities from local businesses, partnering with community-based vendors for meals, and compensating local participants for their time and expertise.
This approach fosters economic empowerment, allowing communities to benefit financially from tourism in a way that is sustainable and controlled by the locals themselves. Moreover, this economic focus helps strengthen local infrastructure and opens new opportunities for community members, enhancing their quality of life.
Point 5: Encouraging Personal Responsibility and Reflective Engagement
CBTAs offer a unique opportunity for travelers to reflect on their impact and role within the community. Adventure Apes encourages participants to approach each activity with an open mind and a willingness to learn, respect, and contribute. Every CBTA ends with a group reflection, where participants and community members share their thoughts, express gratitude, and discuss what they’ve learned.
This reflective practice emphasizes personal responsibility and ensures that participants walk away with a deeper understanding of the community, the challenges they face, and how small acts can contribute to meaningful change.
Why Choose Adventure Apes for Community Based Travel Activities?
Adventure Apes stands out as a facilitator of CBTAs, as we have developed the concept by ourselves. Adventure Apes is a great choice due to its commitment to authenticity, sustainability, and community empowerment. Each CBTA is designed not just as a “one-off” activity but as an opportunity to build real, lasting relationships between visitors and locals. Adventure Apes works closely with community members to ensure that CBTAs are respectful, sustainable, and provide value to everyone involved.
By participating in a CBTA with Adventure Apes, businesses and travelers become part of a broader effort to uplift communities, create positive social impact, and promote a deeper understanding of Finnish culture and values. These experiences leave both travelers and locals enriched, ensuring that every trip goes beyond tourism and becomes a step toward a more connected, compassionate world.
Conclusion: CBTAs Make Travel Matter
Adventure Apes’ Community Based Travel Activities turn travel into a force for good, transforming standard CSR into meaningful community engagement, and by providing ways to do good for leisure travelers too. Through CBTAs, travelers don’t just leave a positive impact—they forge connections, learn from the people they meet, and become active contributors to the communities they visit.
In a world where authentic connections are increasingly valuable, CBTAs offer a travel experience that benefits all, turning each trip into a journey of mutual respect, shared stories, and impactful change.