The practice of planning is fundamental when the implementation of rural tourism is intended. A properly conducted planning provides insights into positive as well as negative impacts of an action or innovation. In this sense, this study ascertains the different phases of rural tourism activity in the Nostra Colonia Project, in Jaguari, RS. Rural tourism in this county was implemented through a partnership between the municipality and SEBRAE (Brazilian Support Service to Micro and Small Enterprises). Bibliographical research was important to define the concepts, draw the frameworks and establish the phases of planning. In the field work, interviews were conducted with the participants of the project in view of finding out how the project started, its development and the actual situation. The results show that the activity was duly planned but certain steps were not considered such as the marketing process, political factor and the peculiar features of rural environment which is completely different of the urban reality. As a matter of fact, rural tourism was implemented, it did show progress in its development but did not attain the stage of consolidation. On the contrary, it shows signs of decline and stagnation. Perhaps, the situation could be reversed if the local municipal authority paid proper attention to rural tourism through economic incentives and personnel allocation and if there is a strong integration between the entrepreneurs, SEBRAE and the local government. / A prática do planejamento é fundamental quando se tem pretensão de implantar e implementar o turismo rural. Quando o planejamento é realizado, proporciona efeitos positivos sobre a comunidade envolvida. Quando inexistente, as possibilidades de sucesso são menores. Nesse sentido, este estudo verifica como se estruturou a atividade de turismo rural através do Roteiro Nostra Colônia, Jaguari-RS. O turismo rural no município foi implantado através de uma parceria entre a Prefeitura Municipal e o Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas- SEBRAE. Foi investigada, através da pesquisa bibliográfica, a importância, os conceitos, as abordagens e as fases do planejamento. Na pesquisa de campo, realizaram-se entrevistas com os envolvidos no Roteiro para entender como o turismo rural foi implantado, desenvolvido e como se situa nos dias atuais. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que o planejamento foi realizado pelos órgãos competentes, contudo estes desconsideraram fatores importantes para que o roteiro se consolidasse como realização de marketing contínuo, políticas que assegurassem o apoio da atividade independente do partido político atuante e metodologias que diferenciassem a realidade rural da urbana. Considera-se que o turismo rural obteve sua implantação, teve certo desenvolvimento, mas não chegou a se consolidar, imediatamente passando para a fase de estagnação e declínio. Mediante essa situação, considerase que, se fossem firmadas parcerias entre instituições do próprio município para coordenarem a atividade, se houvesse maior sensibilização por parte do poder público em relação ao turismo e se a comunidade como um todo obtivesse maior participação e poder nas decisões, a situação atual do roteiro poderia ser revertida através de planos, programas e projetos que viabilizassem sua revitalização.

If tourism is to contribute to the reduction of poverty and create employment, tourists also need to be attracted to smaller towns and rural areas. Development of rural tourism routes are often supply-side driven and the role of marketing is not well understood. This study therefore explores the experiences and insights of key supply-side stakeholders in two rural KwaZulu-Natal tourism routes, regarding the marketing of these routes, as well as the critical success factors that ensure future sustainable competitiveness, which may lead to local economic development and thus poverty relief. The researcher adopted an interpretivist epistemology along with subjectivist ontology, to allow for empathetic investigation of the perceptions of the stakeholders in rural tourism routes and of the marketing of such routes. Three approaches converged in the empirical study namely: a qualitative approach which allowed the researcher to gain more in-depth understanding of the factors related to route marketing; an exploratory approach which allowed the researcher to pursue new issues uncovered during the research process; and a case study approach which triangulates a variety of sources of information. Two very different routes were selected to provide wider insight into the research problem, namely the Midlands Meander and the Battlefields Route. The population was restricted to supply-side stakeholders and semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 29 respondents, selected through a combination of purposive and snowball sampling. The literature review explores rural tourism as a catalyst for economic development. The role of stakeholders in tourism routes is examined and the range of stakeholders is identified. The concept of societal marketing as an orientation that may give support to local economic development is explored. Destination marketing and the destination marketing mix, is discussed as the foundation of tourism route marketing. Particular attention is paid to destination branding and positioning, and a number of critical success factors in destination marketing are identified. The nature of tourism route marketing, the elements in the route marketing mix, and critical success factors in rural tourism route marketing are identified from the literature. The marketing practices of several international rural tourism routes are examined to determine good practice. Existing marketing activities and structures within KwaZulu-Natal are described as the background against which the two routes market their offerings. The empirical findings of the study reports on the benefits of rural tourism routes as perceived for various stakeholders. The roles of product owners on the route, the local community, and municipal and tourism marketing structures are described. Strategic route marketing issues are reported on, including sustainability of a route, insufficient visitors, responsibility to market the route, market targeting and factors that impact on marketing success. The elements of the route marketing mix are reported on with reference to the route product offering and experience, people, physical evidence and signage, pricing, and promotion. The study revealed a number of enabling factors that need to be in place for a route to succeed, namely leadership and co-operation on all levels; a functional route structure with broad representation; financial viability of the route; and route accessibility and signage. Several factors critical for the successful marketing of rural tourism routes are identified. These include the establishment of a strong identity and brand; providing a unique experience; balancing the route product mix, promotion of the route by all stakeholders; and effective use of electronic media. Recommendations are made for further research on rural tourism routes. / Dissertation (MPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Tourism Management / unrestricted

No description available.

The transition to a low carbon future is necessary to ensure humanity’s sustainable future, yet the expanding introduction of renewable energy technologies (RETs) is a central driver for transformations in rural landscapes worldwide. Introducing renewable energy (RE) infrastructures in rural landscapes raises concerns about the reduced naturalness and attractiveness of such landscapes for tourism and recreation as well as the transformation of people-place bonds as established through people’s interactions with and experiences in the surrounding landscapes. Few have examined how landscape transformation resulting from RE developments reshapes land users’ bonds with places. Furthermore, previous research has primarily relied on crosssectional quantitative data. This study addresses that literature gap and uses the Nature's Contributions to People (NCP) framework and the evolutionary theory of place attachment as theoretical underpinnings to examine how individuals perceive and experience evolving landscapes. By exploring individuals’ perceptions of and affective bonds with physical landscapes, this study provides a holistic understanding of the bonds that different groups of people may have with a certain place and how these bonds are manifested in the context of RE development and RET-related place change. In-depth interviews with private landowners and recreationists from the municipality of Mönsterås, Sweden, and observations in the Åby-Alebo wind park allow for the coconstruction of narratives reflecting individual accounts of meaning-making processes. The findings demonstrate that place attachment was evident in respondents’ descriptions of how they make a place meaningful to themselves through personal experiences and (recreational) practices. Along with landscape changes, for some individuals, meanings towards and bond with place evolved as well. The discussion shows that the emotional relationship to place reflects respondents’ particular journey in the world and over time. The study also highlights that differences in how recreationists and landowners bond with places is manifested in a changing context, disclosing the relationality of place attachment along social, practical, and temporal contextual factors. This points to encouraging possibilities for discussing the reconceptualization of humanity’s transition towards a low carbon future and fostering more sustainable landscape management in rural recreation areas.

<p>Globalna konkurencija u turizmu postala je izazov za mnoge zemlje koje se<br />takmiče da postanu poželjna turistička destinacija, te je razumevanje faktora koji<br />doprinose konkurentnosti destinacije od su&scaron;tinskog značaja za održavanje<br />postojećeg nivoa razvoja turističke destinacije, njenog rasta i vitalnosti. Zbog<br />toga, merenje konkurentnosti se može smatrati ključnim faktorom u<br />obezbeđivanju uspeha turističkih destinacija. Predmet doktorske disertacije je<br />identifikacija i utvrđivanje značaja faktora koji mogu imati uticaj na<br />konkurentnost ruralnog turizma Vojvodine. U radu su se, primenom anketnog<br />istraživanja, ispitivali stavovi interesnih grupa značajnih za razvoj ruralnog<br />turizma na strani ponude u Vojvodini i Mađarskoj (direktni pružaoci usluga u<br />ruralnom turizmu, zaposleni u turističkim organizacijama i turističkim<br />agencijama, zaposleni u op&scaron;tinskim i pokrajinskim službama, zaposleni u<br />ministarstvima, nastavno osoblje na fakultetima). Osnovni cilj istraživanja je da<br />se utvrdi koliko je Vojvodina konkurentna kao destinacija ruralnog turizma,<br />odnosno da se oceni trenutno stanje svih onih faktora koji utiču/mogu uticati na<br />konkurentnost Vojvodine. Naučni doprinos istraživanja doktorske disertacije<br />ogleda se u identifikaciji determinanti koje su od značaja za konkurentnost<br />destinacija ruralnog turizma. Kao rezultat toga, razviće se model za merenje<br />konkurentnosti destinacija ruralnog tuirzma koji će biti primenljiv na Vojvodinu<br />koja ima kapacitete da razvija ruralni turizam, ali i bilo koju drugu destinaciju<br />ruralnog turizma.</p> / <p>Global competition in the tourism industry has become a challenge for many countries that are competing to become a desirable tourist destination, so understanding the factors that contribute to the competitiveness of destinations is essential to maintain the current level of development of tourist destination, its growth and vitality. Therefore, measurement of competitiveness can be considered as a key factor in ensuring the success of tourist destinations. The subject of this dissertation is to identify and determine the significance of the factors that may have an impact on the competitiveness of rural tourism in Vojvodina. In the paper, survey research is used in order to investigate attitudes of stakeholders important for rural tourism development on the supply side in Vojvodina and Hungary (direct service providers in rural tourism, employees of tourist organizations and travel agencies, employees of municipal and provincial departments, employees of ministries, teaching staff at universities). The main objective of the research is to determine how much Vojvodina is a competitivedestination for rural tourism, or to assess the current state of all the factors that affect/could affect the competitiveness of Vojvodina. The scientific contribution of the&nbsp; doctoral dissertation research is reflected in the identification of determinants that are&nbsp; important for the competitiveness of rural tourism destination. As a result, the model will be developed to measure the competitiveness of rural tourism destinations, which will be applicable to Vojvodina, the province that has the capacity to develop rural tourism, or any other destination of rural tourism.</p>

To attract visitors to stay and enjoy the rural landscapes and reduce out-migration to cities, there is a need to enhance practices and policies to boost rural community well-being. Community well-being is about residents' feeling of satisfaction with their local place with considering the social and physical environment, the services, and facilities regarding place attachment (Forjaz et al., 2011; McCrea et al., 2015). In this study, the extent to which farm shops as agriculture diversification strategies impact the community well-being in rural areas is investigated. Kalmar Län, the southern county in Sweden, is the chosen case study to learn more about the subject. For this research, eight interviews were conducted with farmers, and data were analyzed with thematic analysis.  Findings of this study indicate that farm shop owners' motivation to start and continue their activities is not limited to financial incentives, and there are other influential factors that encourage farmers to start and continue their farm shop businesses. Moreover, Farmers in Kalmar County are working as a network and feel connected with one other in varied ways. Furthermore, the direct impacts of farm shops on health and nature were expressed by farmers as well. According to the farmers, these shops impact society by providing spaces for social interaction, which is a critical performance of farm shops. And all these factors increase the feeling of attachment to the place for both farmers and visitors and motivate visitors to visit farm shops more often and encourage farmers to continue their activities in the rural area, and consequently enhance the well-being of community in the rural regions.

Rural areas have experienced a decline in traditional livelihoods, leading to a decrease in population and economic challenges. However, tourism has emerged as a crucial source of income and a driving force in rural community development. This study explores the role of lifestyle entrepreneurs in creating sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems in rural tourism destinations. It investigates the motivations and management practices of lifestyle entrepreneurs and examines their perceptions of their own performance and contribution to sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems in their local communities. Six in-depth interviews were conducted with lifestyle entrepreneurs operating in different regions of rural Sweden to address the research questions.    The findings reveal that lifestyle entrepreneurs are primarily motivated by the quality of life, personal fulfilment, creativity, autonomy, and a strong connection to their community and local environment. These motivations influence their decision-making processes, leading to the application of sustainable business practices that align with their values. Networking and cooperation among lifestyle entrepreneurs are emphasized, with a focus on collaboration over competition, resulting in benefits such as sustainable practices, increased competitiveness, and opportunities for knowledge sharing and discussion. However, the extent of engagement in networking and cooperation may vary based on entrepreneurs' motivations and priorities.   The study concludes that promoting sustainable tourism practices and supporting the well-being of lifestyle entrepreneurs are crucial for local sustainable development. Policymakers and stakeholders should consider the unique needs of lifestyle entrepreneurs and foster a supportive environment that encourages cooperation, networking, and work-life balance.

The site of this diploma project is the small hilltop village of Poggio Aquilone. The village, situated in the region of Umbria in central Italy, lies roughly halfway between Rome and Florence. The Region of Umbria is one of the least populated in Italy, characterized by its hills, river valleys and historical towns such as Assisi, Terni, Todi, Orvieto and the regional capital of Perugia with its 160.000 inhabitants. It is the only landlocked region in central Italy, bordered by Lazio to the south, Marche to the east and Tuscany to the west and north. Primary industries include agriculture, textile, and steel. Tourism has, historically, been relatively modest in Umbria compared to its neighboring regions. Poggio Aquilone, traces its ancestry centuries back, but similar to countless small villages and settlements across Italy and other rural parts of Europe, Poggio Aquilone’s population is dwindling. The youth, in particular, are migrating to larger urban conurbations such as Perugia or Rome. Within the next few decades, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas, and with urbanization comes large challenges for rural communities. In the specific case of Italy, many of the affected places are of great cultural- and historical value. Old buildings are oftentimes left abandoned and in a state of disrepair, while the rate of new developments and resource waste continue to soar. However, there is a lot of untapped potential in many countryside towns and villages – both social, economic, and cultural – that larger cities lack. The proximity to nature, an affordable cost of living and a peaceful and quiet environment to name a few. An increasing number of city dwellers are missing these valuable factors.  The project strives to explore how architectural strategies can be utilized to strengthen the independence of Poggio Aquilone through means of rural tourism – safeguarding its character and history while improving conditions for long term survival. The project consists of two distinct phases; the first includes an extensive survey and site analysis, the second a proposal for the repurposing of select derelict buildings into dwellings. The survey phase and following processing of the findings are integral parts of this project in their own right, as they have allowed for the exploration of current technology for efficiently and accurately measuring a site, as well as approaching an existing, sensitive environment.

The site of this diploma project is the small hilltop village of Poggio Aquilone. The village, situated in the region of Umbria in central Italy, lies roughly halfway between Rome and Florence. The Region of Umbria is one of the least populated in Italy, characterized by its hills, river valleys and historical towns such as Assisi, Terni, Todi, Orvieto and the regional capital of Perugia with its 160.000 inhabitants. It is the only landlocked region in central Italy, bordered by Lazio to the south, Marche to the east and Tuscany to the west and north. Primary industries include agriculture, textile, and steel. Tourism has, historically, been relatively modest in Umbria compared to its neighboring regions. Poggio Aquilone, traces its ancestry centuries back, but similar to countless small villages and settlements across Italy and other rural parts of Europe, Poggio Aquilone’s population is dwindling. The youth, in particular, are migrating to larger urban conurbations such as Perugia or Rome. Within the next few decades, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas, and with urbanization comes large challenges for rural communities. In the specific case of Italy, many of the affected places are of great cultural- and historical value. Old buildings are oftentimes left abandoned and in a state of disrepair, while the rate of new developments and resource waste continue to soar. However, there is a lot of untapped potential in many countryside towns and villages – both social, economic, and cultural – that larger cities lack. The proximity to nature, an affordable cost of living and a peaceful and quiet environment to name a few. An increasing number of city dwellers are missing these valuable factors.  The project strives to explore how architectural strategies can be utilized to strengthen the independence of Poggio Aquilone through means of rural tourism – safeguarding its character and history while improving conditions for long term survival. The project consists of two distinct phases; the first includes an extensive survey and site analysis, the second a proposal for the repurposing of select derelict buildings into dwellings. The survey phase and following processing of the findings are integral parts of this project in their own right, as they have allowed for the exploration of current technology for efficiently and accurately measuring a site, as well as approaching an existing, sensitive environment.

Darbo objektas: inovacijos kaimo turizmo sodybose. Tikslas: atskleisti vartotojų požiūrį į kaimo turizme diegiamas inovacijas ir jų poreikį. Uždaviniai: 1. Apibrėžti inovacijos sampratą ir paaiškinti inovacinės veiklos procesą; 2. Išnagrinėti inovacijų specifiką kaimo turizmo sektoriuje; 3. Nustatyti vartotojų požiūrį į inovacijų taikymą kaimo turizmo sektoriuje. Tiriamasis klausimas: 1. Koks vartotojų poreikis naujoms kaimo turizmo sodybų paslaugoms? Svarbiausi rezultatai, išvados ir pasiūlymai. Atlikus tyrimą, daroma išvada, kad respondentus pagal jų požiūrį į inovacijas galima skirti į tris grupes. Dalis respondentų mano, kad kaimo turizmo sodybų sektoriuje inovacijos reikalingos ir naudingos, jų diegimas populiarina sodybas, nauji įdiegti produktai ir paslaugos skatina apsilankyti ar rinktis vieną ar kitą kaimo turizmo sodybą. Šiai grupei vartotojų svarbu, kad sodyboje teikiamų paslaugų paketas būtų nuolat papildomas naujai siūlomomis paslaugomis. Kita respondentų dalis mano, kad inovacijos jiems nebūtinos, nes jų lankymosi tikslas kaimo turizmo sodybose – atšvęsti šventę (gimtadienį, vestuves, šeimos šventes, Naujuosius metus ir kitas šventes). Šie respondentai teigia, kad sodyboje yra tai, kas reikalinga švęsti šventei (maitinimo, apgyvendinimo paslaugos, pakankamai pramogų). Trečioji grupė apklaustųjų teigia, kad jiems inovacijos nerūpi, į inovacijas jie žiūri abejingai ar nežino, kokios gali būti inovacijos kaimo turizmo sektoriuje ir kam jų reikia. Kaimo turizmo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Object of research: innovations in rural tourism homesteads. Aim of research: to expose consumers‘ attitudes to innovations in rural tourism. Goal: to gauge consumer opinion about innovations in a rural tourism sector. Aims: 1. To explain the conception of innovations and the process of administration; 2. To discuss the peculiarites of innovations in a rural tourism sector. 3. To evaluate the opportunities for innovations introduced in a rural tourism sector. Investigation: 1. What is the attitude of consumers to apply to innovation in rural tourism services? Final results, conclusions and suggestions Having undertaken the research we can come to the conclusion that respondents‘ attitude towards innovations in a rural tourism sector is different. Some respondents believe that innovations in a rural tourism sector are necessary and useful because they popularize homesteads. The number of consumers would like to see innovation in areas such as educational activities, tastings, presentations of culinary heritage and outdoor activities (winter entertainment adventure parks). The other part of consumers consider innovation as inessential because the purpose of their visit is to mark certain occations in rural tourism homesteads. For this purpose, in rural tourism homesteads clients find everything they need. The third of respondents mention that they neither miss nor need innovations in rural tourism sector. They do not know what kind of innovation in this sector can be and why... [to full text]