Abstract: The present paper attempts to weave together the theory and practice of community based tourism. Though the idea of community based development is age-old, its adoption into tourism is relatively recent. The paper examines how community based tourism can be a panacea for many of the evils of the mainstream industry driven mass-tourism. It exhorts that, while community is at the centre stage, there are important roles for governments and nongovernmental organizations in community based tourism. The role of publicprivate partnership is also examined.