This publication released on the occasion of the International Year for Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, focuses on community empowerment and poverty alleviation through rural tourism development. The report shines a light on rural tourism development in the Asia Pacific region with fourteen specific case studies that show how communities have adapted a sustainable approach to rural tourism that stimulates economic growth, creates employment and improves the livelihood of communities.

Rural regions are experiencing fundamental challenges to their ways of life and social fabric, as traditional land-based occupations are in decline and younger and better-educated rural residents migrate to cities for greater work, social and cultural opportunities. Rural tourism offers a possible solution to the problems associated with lost economic opportunities and population decline that accompany the waning of agriculture. Many governments and regional authorities have embraced rural tourism as an opportunity to bring new money into rural regions, stimulating growth, providing employment opportunities and thus beginning to halt rural decline. However, the possibilities of rural tourism to promote rural regeneration have been criticised for being over-stated and unrealistic. Rural tourism has frequently been found to under-deliver in terms of expected economic benefits and job creation, and may sometimes exacerbate local hierarchies and inequalities. This edited collection questions the contribution tourism can and does make to rural regions. Drawing on a range of geographically diverse, research-driven case studies, the book is thematically organised to explore a variety of issues relevant to rural tourism, from the perspectives of local communities, businesses, government/policy makers and the tourists themselves.

With an expected growth rate of around 6 per cent rural tourism is developing faster than the overall growth rate for international tourism arrivals. Due to its special importance for the European region, three seminars were held in Belgrade (Serbia), Kielce (Poland) and Yaremcha (Ukraine) to focus on three major issues: to contribute to a better understanding of rural tourism and to offer additional tools for planning and execution of initiatives; to enhance the importance of rural tourism in the agendas of governments and international organizations; to generate political and financial support for the development of rural tourism. (WTO)

Forces of economic, social, cultural, environmental, and political change are working to re-define rural spaces the world over and broad global transformations in consumption and transportation patterns have re-shaped leisure behaviour and travel. This book of cases about rural tourism development in Canada demonstrates the different ways that tourism has been positioned as a local response to political and economic shifts in a nation that is itself undergoing rapid change, both continentally and globally.

Mountainous and rural areas throughout the world have continually been attributed with several hinderances including poverty, faulty governance, and susceptibility to natural disasters. However, with the recent development of tourism, these provinces have seen a strong rise in visitation. Despite this increase in economic sustainability, planners are still presented with many challenges as they try to balance developmental and ecological considerations. Global Opportunities and Challenges for Rural and Mountain Tourism provides emerging research exploring the integration of mountain tourism development and innovative practices for managing contemporary issues and challenges of tourism in these regions including socio-economic impacts, role of stakeholders, and promotional strategies for sustainable tourism development. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as cultural heritage, marketing strategies, and value chain systems, this book is ideally designed for travel agents, tour directors, tour developers, hotel managers, hospitality and tourism professionals, industry practitioners, researchers, geographical scientists, planners, academicians, and students.

Written by leading European practitioners and researchers, this book examines both the theory and practice of rural tourism. It outlines how to both conceptualise and implement rural tourism in a sustainable way and will be of interest to tourism researchers and students of tourism, economics, geography, planning and sociology.

Rural tourism is a form of tourism that is based on natural resources and requires intertwining with rural areas. It can be easily integrated with other types of tourism, and can be an effective global development strategy. Therefore, introducing rural tourism practices in various regions throughout the world allows further exploration of the reciprocal effects of agriculture, rural areas and tourism. This book provides insights into the potential of rural tourism potential and its future development, through unique examples and case studies drawn from Turkey, which has been increasingly implementing this form of tourism in recent years. Given the continued existence of traditional lifestyles in rural areas and villages, in addition to the rich cultural heritage, local handicrafts, and the natural flora and fauna, rural tourism holds massive potential for Turkey. The volume will appeal to both international academicians and tourism professionals and practitioners, in addition to anyone with an interest in rural areas and rural development.