Rural tourism focuses on actively participating in a rural lifestyle. It can be a variant of ecotourism. Many villages can facilitate tourism because many villagers are hospitable and eager to welcome (and sometime even host) visitors. Agriculture is becoming highly mechanized and therefore, requires less manual labor. This trend is causing economic pressure on some villages, which in turn causes young people to move to urban areas. There is however, a segment of the urban population that is interested in visiting the rural areas and understanding the lifestyle.
Basics
Agritourism is a tourist offer in rural areas, which includes stays of an experiential nature on or near an agricultural farm, organized mainly by farmers and allowing agriculture to receive extra income. The basic idea is the proximity to the host family, which gives the holidaymaker personal contact and insight into the everyday life of rural life.
In Austria, Switzerland, South Tyrol, the Bavarian Alpine region and other German holiday regions such as the Black Forest, tourism is a central economic factor in rural areas and traditionally integrated into agrarian environments. Especially for the full-time farmers this is a possibility of additional income, which can be realized even in a limited domestic context without excessive investment. The advantage is that the typical courtyard of the Central European area was designed in addition to the family for some servants, and therefore already has the necessary to accommodate houseguests accommodation. It should be noted by the providers that this branch of business also demands working hours accordingly. Due to the integration into the business and the contact with the family of the hosts, the guests need time accordingly.
Meanwhile, the division has its own touristic profile. “Land vacation” increasingly stands for the combination of active recreation, nature experience and rural culture, as well as for wellness in a rural environment. Also, shore leave is no longer offered solely by original farms, but carried in tourism regions by a broad segment of the population, increasingly from lateral entrants to professional providers in the hotel industry.
Tourist activities in rural areas
The tourist activities in the rural environment constitute the offer of services, equipment and products of:
accommodation
food
reception to visit rural properties
recreation, entertainment and pedagogical activities linked to the rural context
other activities complementary to those listed above, provided that they are practiced in rural areas, that they exist due to tourism or that they constitute the reason for the visitation.
In particular, it can present as an attraction the plantations and crops in areas where they may serve as an international reference in the so-called agribusiness.
The conception is based on the notion of territory, with emphasis on the criterion of destination and the valorization of rurality. Thus, a geographically defined, generally continuous, physical space comprising cities and fields, characterized by multidimensional criteria such as environment, economy, society, culture, politics and institutions, and a population with relatively distinct social groups, which relate internally and externally through specific processes, where one or more elements that indicate cultural identity and social, cultural and territorial cohesion can be distinguished.
In rural areas, these elements predominantly manifest themselves in the allocation of land, especially in agricultural practices, and in the notion of rurality, that is, in the value that contemporary society conceives of the rural, and which includes the more general characteristics of the land. rural environment: the territorial production of quality, landscape, biodiversity, culture and a certain way of life, identified by agricultural activity, family logic, community culture, identification with the cycles of nature.
The commitment to agricultural production is identified with rurality: a bond with the things of the land. Thus, even though agricultural practices are not present on a commercial scale, the commitment to agricultural production can be represented by social and labor practices, the environment, customs and traditions, architectural aspects, handicrafts, considered typical of each rural population.
The provision of services related to hospitality in a rural environment makes the rural characteristics come to be understood in a way that is not only focused on the primary production of food. Thus, practices common to rural life, such as management of creations, cultural manifestations and the landscape itself are considered important components of the rural tourism product and, consequently, valued and valued for this.
The added value also is present the possibility of piggybacking production on a small scale, or processing products in natura, transforming them so that they can be offered to the tourist in the form of canning, dairy products, food and others.
Rural tourism, in addition to its commitment to agricultural activities, is characterized by the valorization of cultural and natural heritage as elements of tourism in rural areas. Thus, entrepreneurs, in the definition of their products of Rural Tourism, should contemplate, with the greatest possible authenticity, the cultural factors, through the rescue of regional manifestations and practices (such as folklore, handicrafts, the gastronomy), and to focus on the conservation of the natural environment.
In the field of economic development, rural tourism would only produce activities when located in centers close to large cities or in places with special attractions. However, the problems resulting from the massification of rural tourism can be many, such as punctual location, serious environmental impacts, abandonment of agricultural activities and excessive outsourcing of economic activity.
The public sector has been gaining importance in the generation of non-agricultural occupations in rural areas, either directly through the public administration or through the social services it provides.
Factors of rural tourism
Several factors underpin the growing popularity of rural tourism in the world today:
Historical-cultural richness
Feelings that the place awakens
Cleanliness and tranquility of the environment
Treatment received
Harmony of the environment
Maintenance of architectural style.
Shops
Historic-landscape richness
Tourist-cultural management
Complementary tourist offer
Principles
Minimize impact of rapid urban development
Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
Provide direct financial benefit for conservation
Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people
Raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climate.
Hotel-farm
A hotel-farm is a commercial establishment of lodging located always in the rural zone and destined to the leisure, recreation, events etc. We can also say that it is a lodging place located in a rural environment, endowed with farming and livestock, offering entertainment and experience of the countryside. In the Basic Guidance Booklet of Cadastur, also of the Ministry of Tourism, the definition adopted for a farm hotel is: a “hotel set up on a farm or other type of agricultural holding, and which offers a rural environment.”
Farm hotels can be situated on rural properties, adapted from old original farmhouse structures, in which historical aspects of economic cycles and agricultural crops have been preserved. In these cases, the tourist enjoys modernized facilities, the typical scene of the time and activities programmed for a hotel, with all the equipment and services. Also aimed at the practice of recreational activities and contact with nature.
They can also be totally new, built more for rest and recreation, with infrastructure installed to practice various sports (swimming pool, tennis court, soccer field etc), arborism, stables and other typical elements of country life.
It is quite common to use this nomenclature in hotels with leisure facilities (another category). However, it is possible to verify in the bibliography about the theme, that the expression “Rural Tourism” applies in the presence of rural activities as attractions of the lodging environment, since the theme evokes an experience in typical activities of this that it is understood that the tourist associates them with the expression.
Agritourism
Agrotourism is one of the different forms of tourism in rural areas, practiced by families of farmers willing to share their way of life with the inhabitants of the urban environment.
It is well known that farmers, who offer quality services, value and respect as no one else the environment and obviously the rurality, as well as the local cultural or traditional. Thus, in this type of tourism, before the official and governmental bodies of the respective countries, they undertake to make known to their guests that being and knowledge. And to this end, they are “obliged” to allow outsiders, who stay in their rural farms, to carry out the same agricultural tasks together with them. It is this last peculiarity that distinguishes itself from the other modalities of rural tourism.
In this context, agrotourism is a non-agricultural activity characterized by the strictly geographical point of view in rural areas, external to the agricultural and livestock properties of the region where they settle. Thus, they have nothing to do with the daily routines of production, constituting, on the contrary, a world apart.
In many cases, agrotourism is associated with agroecology, ecotourism or environmental education, but not always, since they are distinct and only complementary in some countries.
Agrotourism helps to stabilize the local economy, creating jobs in activities indirectly linked to agricultural activity and tourism itself, such as merchandise trade, auxiliary services, construction, among others, as well as opening up direct business opportunities such as lodging, leisure and recreation. With regard to environmental benefits, we can mention the stimulus to environmental conservationand the multiplication of species of plants and animals, among others, by the increase of tourist demand. Economically, one can mention, as an example of advantages associated with agro-tourism, the possibility of adding value to the agricultural products of the establishment and the installation of artisanal industries, for example for the production of typical regional foods. In addition, it draws attention to the management, conservation and recovery of degraded areas and forest and natural vegetation.
Benefits
Rural tourism allows the creation of a replacement source of income in the non-agricultural sector for rural dwellers. The added income from rural tourism can contribute to the revival of lost folk art and handicrafts.
The publication Promoting Tourism in Rural America explains the need for planning and marketing rural communities, as well as weighing the pros and cons of the impacts of tourism. Local citizen participation is helpful and should be included in starting any kind of a tourism program. Being prepared when planning tourism can assist in a successful program that enhances the community.
Community Ecotourism
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” TIES is an example of a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting companies in developing ecotourism practices and promoting sustainable community development. Ecotourism provides an alternative form of travel to mass tourism. Mass tourism is the idea of visiting a place with minimal responsibility to the local community and environment. Tourism, the world’s largest industry of more than 10% of total employment and 11% of global GDP, is also a quickly growing industry as “total tourist trips are predicted to increase to 1.6 billion by 2020”. In order to accommodate these rising needs in the tourism industry, there must be a shift within this industry. One in particular is the need to protect the environment and respect the local culture.
According to the World Tourism Organization, ecotourism is growing three times faster than the tourism industry. This implies the already changing phenomenon occurring in traveling. Similarly, the World Conservation Union goes one step further in defining ecotourism to include enjoying and appreciating nature, have low negative visitor impact, and providing socio-economic involvement to the local populations. As ecotourism is growing, it is also focusing on especially vulnerable locations to climate change. In a neoliberalism theory, ecotourism is a win-win for both the host and tourist. This is because there is an effort for conservation when jobs are available outside of activities such as logging that harm the environment and the intrinsic value of the environment is taken into consideration. Additionally, ecotourism enhances social capital for both the host and tourist when engaging in social interaction and learning about other cultures.
However, because ecotourism is most popular in vulnerable environments, it may unintentionally exploit the community causing a serious social justice issue. The idea of community ecotourism is placing the tourism activities in the hands of the local community. It addresses the needs of the tourism businesses to minimize negative impacts and maximize positive impacts in all three parts of the community – social, economic, and environmental. Community ecotourism resolves one issue with ecotourism in particular, the input of the community hosting the tourism. Governments and outside agencies have pushed communities into hosting tourists which can sometimes cause more harm if the community is not prepared without relevant knowledge, leadership, or capacity. An example of such occurrence is in Montego Bay in which international organizations brought tourists to already westernized sites, which harmed this degraded environment. Another example is the case of Papua New Guinea’s Crater Mountain. Setting aside their ethnic tension, the clans planned a tourist lodge for two years that the government denied in five minutes. The lack of collusion among the local clans and the government created tension and failure for all parties. With community ecotourism, the community itself primarily sees the venture to success and receives the economic benefit, rather than government or third party organizations.
As a whole, the rise in demand of tourism to exotic places as they become more accessible provides an opportunity for vulnerable and economically impoverished communities. In traditional tourism, these communities are often exploited and their resources depleted. It also includes the social inequities when considering the power in the host-guest relationship. Community ecotourism empowers the relationship of the host and guest so that both can learn from a different culture and how to maneuver such differences. When addressed properly, equitable relationships blossom in the national and global sphere. Unlike traditional tourism, this alternative tourism experience enables people to engage positively in the community’s way of life and learn how they interact with the environment. Community ecotourism can act as a solution to social justice issues that arise with the tourism industry in respect to the economy, environment, and culture.
Benefits of Community Ecotourism
Generally, success is the benefits outweighing the costs. A more concrete measure of success for ecotourism is ensuring that the tourism industry operates within the location’s capacity to handle such activities in the three areas of ecotourism – economy, environment, and culture. One such form of capacity is economic capacity so that the tourism industry does not displace sustainable local economic activity already in place. Additionally, there is an environmental carrying capacity, the limit at which the environment is not degraded from tourism. This is especially important as many ecotourism locations are in locations vulnerable to climate change, such as along the coast. There is also the idea of cultural capacity in which the tourism industry remains authentic and can maintain local practices. With addressing these three capacity measures, many problems mass tourism places on the host community are resolved.
Economic
In contrast with traditional tourism, community ecotourism is often a tool for economic development to promote both capital inflow and employment opportunities to the community. Thus, it is often targeting more impoverished areas where implemented. It encourages entrepreneurship for local members to organize the community in implementing and running successful community-based ecotourism enterprises. Both financial and social capital is placed in the indigenous community, driving further enhancements of the community ecotourism program. This capital inflow can then be used to help the development of infrastructure, education, and health practices. Community-based ecotourism places an emphasis on local businesses and reinforces supporting local endeavors. Not only does the capital increase, the intrinsic value of the environment increases. In Zanzibar, the idea of ecotourism has enabled entrepreneurs to give tours of their home villages and use the revenue to support themselves as well as give back to the community. It has also helped development in conservational ways including increasing investment in solar energy. As a whole, community-based ecotourism can overall increase the economic value of a previously impoverished area through providing dignified jobs and capital into the local economy.
Environmental
Along with economic value, community ecotourism enhances the value of the environment for both the host and the traveler. As a result, community ecotourism becomes an incentive for conservation. For the community, their environment becomes a showcase to the tourist and brings a greater desire to maintain it. In mass tourism, the average tourist holds little responsibility in the impact they have on the environment and often depletes resources. Community ecotourism gives the tourist a greater stake in conservation efforts because of their involvement in the local culture. Community ecotourism becomes a potential solution to bring social justice to those suffering from side effects of mass tourism in locations most vulnerable to climate change. The Galapagos Islands was one of the initial ecotourism destinations. As the programs have continued to evolve in combatting ecotourism issues, specifically with maintaining cultural capacity, one of the main findings from community ecotourism are the programs associated with environmental conservation. When visiting national parks, guides must be with the tourists to ensure they stay on the paths and do not harm the environment during nature walks. One in particular sets tourists on projects to help with environmental restoration, economic development projects, and biodiversity conservation. These “travel philanthropists” are more involved tourists who want to appreciate the natural beauty of the destination from a completely different viewpoint. The ecotourism model on a community-based level enables conservation efforts to come from both the tourist and the community to maximize results.
Sociocultural
The sociocultural aspect of ecotourism is that the local tourist becomes more engaged in the community and their culture. This can be from learning a religious tradition or supporting a local handicraft. Tourism can at times force more injustices on the host community. It inculcates a sense of inequality in the relationships if the tourist feels they have superior knowledge. Community-based ecotourism places more responsibility on the tourist to learn from the other culture. For example, in South Africa, community ecotourism has been especially beneficial after the apartheid because of a renewed attention towards local cultures that are selling traditional handicrafts and showing cultural tours. The community-based ecotourist is often more interested in engaging with the local community. This can also entail building relationships and decreasing the social gap. Specifically, engagement in nationalism, socioeconomic conditions, and similar age groups can help narrow the social gap and decrease stereotypes. This leads to a more positive cultural understanding on both sides. This effect can even go beyond the tourist’s journey. After visiting such communities and learning about their livelihood, studies have found that people gain a newfound activism to contribute back to the community. This socio-cultural connection with the community can in return bring about greater resources to this community to help promote education, conservation, disease prevention, and other needs. It is through the sociocultural aspect that enhances the tourist’s engagement with the economy and environment to maximize the overall community-based ecotourism experience.
Criticisms
While under the neoliberalism theory, ecotourism is an overall winning situation, there are many issues associated with ecotourism when poorly implemented. Community ecotourism is a solution to many of the flaws detailed.
Inherently Flawed
Compared to responsible tourism and voluntourism, there is an added importance on respect for the environment and being environmentally sustainable while traveling. By definition, travel inherently harms the environment by getting to the location, using more resources than the location is used to, and producing more waste than normal. It adds an overall stress to areas most vulnerable to global warming, such as coastlines. One tourism spot that has struggled to implement community ecotourism is Tanzania. Tanzania practices a kind of ecotourism that focuses exclusively on the environment, also called nature tourism. In Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area, tourists come to look exclusively at the nature bringing primarily economic benefit with arguably negative impact on sociocultural and environmental factors. As a result, the environmental capacity is exhausted and little attention is paid to the culture and environment. It has created a situation in which the environment is now degraded because of tourism and the economic returns are going to organizations outside of the local economy. Community-based ecotourism helps address this flaw through working more small-scale to not expend more resources than available.
Greenwashing
Greenwashing is the idea of using an environmentally friendly label on low impact conservation efforts. These certifications are often marketing tactics that can actually promote low impact projects in which the costs can be greater than the benefit. This idea is common with certain lodging as people look for green marketing to attempt to have an ecotourism experience with minimal responsibilities as a tourist. Cox offers that small-scale, privatized ecotourism enterprises, such as community ecotourism, can avoid such downfalls of green washing. With community ecotourism, the host community has a greater involvement in trying to protect their environment to eliminate any harmful behavior to the environment. However, these low impact campaigns can cause harm to already vulnerable communities, amplifying the institutionalized poverty found in many of these locations. Effective community ecotourism must allow the community to define their environmental needs.
Economic Downfalls
While seen as a driver in the industry, economic returns may not be as high as anticipated. Community ecotourism tends to be more small-scale and does not attract a higher income population. As a result, community ecotourism brings more backpackers and low-income travelers who wish to travel cheaply and thus do not support the local economy. It could in turn result in haggling throughout the journey to receive the lowest prices. When issues like this arise, it may cost more for the community to host tourists than the return it brings, especially when taking into account environmental and social costs. The important part for community ecotourism is to ensure that tourists are leaving an overall positive impact on the community and that capital is reinvested into the community. So, community ecotourism in practice can do more damage both to the environment and local economy while having no positive impact on the people when not properly practiced.
Furthermore, the challenge of community ecotourism is that it is balancing market objectives with both social and environmental aims, whereas competitors that offer more luxuries have primarily financial objectives. In order to lead community ecotourism to success, there must be a clear sense of leadership and direction for the long-term impact of this organization in the local community. When looking at what makes a successful responsible tourism enterprise, research has found the focus on strong leadership, clear market orientation, and organizational culture to be essential. In community ecotourism, this requires appointing a leader or board that can focus on meeting the triple bottom line. Community ecotourism can redefine the tourism industry as sustainable travel continues to have high consumer demand and thwart the harms associated with mass tourism.
Authenticity
Finally, in terms of the sociocultural aspect of community-based ecotourism, it is essential for the community to be respected for their own cultures. At times, the growing demand of tourists can cause tourist sites to adapt to the demands and expectations of the tourist. Instead of showcasing the culture, the community may have a show of what the tourist would expect the culture to be. Community-based ecotourism often eliminates this concern as well when they are responsible for showcasing their own lifestyle to the tourist.
Future Implications
Community ecotourism becomes an issue of social justice. The communities that are becoming popular tourist sites are impoverished and are using ecotourism as a tool for economic development. These communities, especially when looking at indigenous tourism, are often lacking voices in the greater political sphere and faced with limited resources. On top of that, they tend to be especially vulnerable to climate change. This brings greater attention to the need of conservation efforts. Through success of community ecotourism, the community can have a larger voice as they show successful development and become a greater participating member in the global sphere.
As the tourism industry continues to grow, it is imperative to continue developing more sustainable avenues to participate in such endeavors. One way is making travelers aware of the potential harm their activities may have on the host culture. A continuing theme is the importance of dialogue and defining the ideals for each party. While stakeholders want the same idea of economic improvement, environmental sustainability, and cross-cultural relationships, the end goals are often defined differently. Opening a reflexive dialogue that is understandable to all is essential. Overall, the success of smaller enterprises that have thrived under strong leadership and community efforts will help tourism be a tool for economic development. Community ecotourism also opens the discussion for the purpose of land usage and the difference of preservation now over usage in the future. Community ecotourism highlights the importance of seeing the community’s usage of the land. It can bring a common goal for science and local populations alike. Community ecotourism offers an opportunity for the tourism industry to succeed in conservation efforts while enhancing tourism efforts through a grassroots network effort.
Source from Wikipedia