1. Prelude -- 2. Social Construction?: Indicators of rural well-being; Hosts, friends and relatives in rural Scotland: VFR tourism market relationships explored -- 3. The 'S' Word: Sustainable rural tourism development: ideal or idyll? -- 4. Managing?: National policy for 'rural tourism': the case of Finland; Access and Land Management; The roles of interpretation in facilitating access to and in the countryside -- 5. Embedding Rural Tourism Development: Extending the information society beyond urban locations: prospects and reality; The role of rural gastronomy in tourism; Partnership approaches in rural development -- 6. A Sideways Look at Tourism Demand: The Nature of Supply or the Supply of Nature? -- 7. The Nature of Supply or the Supply of Nature?: Adventure tourism - a journey of the mind; Cycling tourism -- 8. Where Demand Meets Supply: Markets for Rural Tourism and Recreation in Rural Areas: Letter from an academic practitioner; The importance of micro-businesses in European tourism; Quality rural tourism, niche markets and imagery: quality products and regional identity -- 9. Synthesis and Conclusions
Summary
The decline in agricultural and other forms of rural employment in developed countries has created a need for a diversified range of rural businesses. Tourism and recreation are recognized as prime contributors to this process. This book reviews both the theory and practice of rural tourism and recreation. Including numerous case studies and contributions from both academics and practitioners, it illustrates how small enterprises can create and adapt products and markets
