Rural Planning and Development for Tourism

Rural tourism is a growing field in recreation and tourism studies. The creation of jobs and support for small businesses can make tourism an important component of economic growth strategies for disadvantaged areas that have limited industrial options. Rural tourism appears to have no concise definition and is often viewed differently from [Page 1044]country to country and region to region. Some destinations may include only farm and nature attractions in the definition; others may consider any economic activities that occur outside urban areas.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) defines rural tourism (similar to community-based tourism) as follows:

• Creates “a rural environment” for the visitor, by offering a combination of natural, cultural and human experiences which have a typically rural character
• Provides the visitor with authentic and ...