Conceptualizing Integrated Rural Tourism

Abstract

in rural and agricultural geography and he has written extensively on topics such as farm diversification, agricultural policy, food supply chains, local and specialist food products, and the links between food and rural tourism.ABSTRACT Rural spaces are no longer associated purely with agricultural commodity production but are seen as locations for the stimulation of new socioeconomic activity, often incorporating tourism, leisure, speciality food production and consumption and e-commerce. Within the context of debates about integrated and territorial approaches to rural development in Europe's 'lagging regions', this paper introduces the notion of 'Integrated Rural Tourism' (IRT) and describes the various methods of research used in an EU research project that forms the basis of this special edition. IRT is theorised as tourism explicitly linked to the economic, social, cultural, natural and human structures of the localities in which it takes place. The argument is that IRT -as a theory and approach -leads to more sustainable tourism (broadly conceived) than other forms of tourism because it creates powerful network connections between social, cultural, economic and environmental resources. The notion of IRT is also intended to open up practical ways of thinking about improving linkages between tourism and local and regional resources, activities, products and communities in the light of changing trends in tourism demand. KEY WORDS: Integrated rural tourism, lagging rural regions, rural development, SPRITE Endnote 1 This paper is based on a collaborative programme of research funded under the EU's Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources programme (QLK5-CT-2000-01211 -SPRITE) and undertaken by the universities and research centres listed in Endnote 2. SPRITE is the acronym for "Supporting and promoting integrated tourism in Europe's lagging rural regions". The authors particularly wish to thank Moya Kneafsey (University of Coventry) and Tim Jenkins (formerly of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and coordinator of the SPRITE project) for their valuable contributions towards the SPRITE conceptual framework. Endnote 2 Participating research groups

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