Rural Tourism 1 The concept of rural tourism

Rural Tourism 1. The concept of ‘rural tourism’. 2. Who are ‘rural tourist’? 3. What makes a rural place popular? 4. What economic benefits come from rural tourism? Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism

Changing forms of rural tourism in Europe • Pre-19 th century: Second homes of aristocrats. • 19 th century: romantic ‘discovery’ of ‘wilderness’ areas such as the Alps and the Scottish Highlands. • Post 1945: large scale outmigration generates VFR tourism combined with low cost holidays. • Late 20 th century: growth of new middle class rural tourism in response to the tourist gaze. Source: after Cavaco (1995). 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 2

The concept of rural tourism …the specific activities which are engaged in during leisure, recreation and tourism are identical, the key differences being the setting or location of the activities, the duration of time involved, and, in some cases, the attitudes, motivations and perceptions of the participants. (Butler et al. 1998). 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 3

The concept of rural tourism Rural places have been traditionally associated with specific rural functions: agriculture, sparsely populated areas, geographically dispersed settlement patterns. Cloke (1992). 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 4

The concept of rural tourism Changes in the way society and non-urban places are organised and function have rendered traditional definitions of rurality less meaningful due to the following changes: Cloke (1992). 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 5

Societal changes affecting RT • People move around more freely. • Economies are interdependent. • New specialised uses of rural spaces in a network with urban spaces. • Rural areas are inhabited by temporary visitors. • Rural spaces increasingly perform a function for urban users. Cloke (1992). 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 6

J. Urry’s definition of RT areas • Areas where agriculture is dominant. • Areas with particular social relationships that are ruled by ownership of the land. • Areas of low population density where the population doesn’t support ‘Bonus’ stores. John Urry (1995). 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 7

EC definition of rural tourism Rural tourism has been adopted by the European Community to refer to the entire tourism activity in a rural area. Keane et al. (1992). 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 8

Tourism planning zones-Iceland 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 9

Who are rural tourists? Sociologist john Urry (1988) suggests that tastes changed following the emergence of a new service class that led to greater emphasis on consumption of rural environments. 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 10

Who are rural tourists? Could this family fit the ´rural tourist´ profile? 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 11

Who are rural tourists? Demand for rural recreation is strongly affected by social class. Participation rates consistently show that the more affluent, better educated and more mobile people visit the country-side. Robinson (1990). 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 12

Rural popularity - the effect of distance 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 13

Rural popularity - the effect of recreational zones 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 14

Rural popularity definition: Depends on the quality of the environment as perceived by man to be of value over time within the limits made by his social, political, economic and institutional framework. O’Riordan (1971: 4). 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 15

Rural popularity What do you want to have in your rural surroundings? 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 16

Rural tourism? The French Cottages, North Carolina. USA 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 17

Rural tourism? 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 18

Rural tourism? 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 19

Rural tourism? 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 20

Farm tourism (a sub-category of rural tourism) • Agricultural diversification to fight falling income from traditional farming. • Family labour is widely used to service farm -based accommodation. • Debate exists on weather farm tourism can be regarded as a main pillar in a diversified agricultural policy. 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 21

The Environmental effects of RT Development-intensive nature of tourism, has introduced many new pressures as ‘new tourism’ discovers the qualities of rural environments. Examples: Theme parks, second homes, national parks etc. 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 22

Economic impacts of RT • • • Income leakage; Multipliers; Local or imported labour; Few entrepreneurs in rural areas; Tourism should be a supplement rather than the mainstay of rural economies. 10/2/2020 Stefan H Valsson - Rural Tourism 23