Rural Tourism: A case of lifestyle-led opportunities

Abstract

Tourism is often seen as a panacea for the ills of declining rural communities. The paper argues that there is an element of blind optimism in this view although a shift of focus from production to consumption within advanced economies like Australia's will undoubtedly provide opportunities for the development of the leisure, recreation and tourism industries, both in metropolitan areas and in rural areas. The paper suggests that an increased focus on lifestyle will come to characterise Australia. Some rural communities will be able to capitalise on this, both for temporary visitors and for in-migration, but many will not. The well established concepts of threshold and range, when coupled with the idea of specialisation, will have a big influence on which places 'win' and which 'lose' in any lifestyle-led and leisure-orientated society. 'Place marketing' will become increasingly important for towns competing against each other for 'the leisure and lifestyle dollar'.

Factors underlying farm diversification: the case of Western Australia’s olive farmers

“…While previous studies have noted the importance of proximity to scenic areas as a factor (Walford 2001) and to other tourism attractions (Fleischer and Tchetchik 2005), the micro-level positioning of individual plots near main tourism routes has not been highlighted (although was hinted at by Walmsley 2003). The results are suggestive that similar factors such as the natural scenic qualities of individual plots and the proximity of plots to other tourism operations are also relevant.…”

Wind farms and rural tourism: A Portuguese case study of residents’ and visitors’ perceptions and attitudes

“…Afonso and Mendes, 2010;Delicado et al, 2013;2014). This is particularly so in the countryside, notably in those areas where tourism has been growing in recent decades, both in terms of demand and of supply, due to the rise of a lifestyle-led and leisure-oriented society, and the widespread mobilisation of tourism as a strategy for rural development and regeneration (Walmsley, 2003). In other words, the "wind turbines -tourism" conflict is particularly pronounced in areas where the productive functions of the countryside come into conflict with the consumptive functions.…”

Adaptation, interaction and urgency: a complex evolutionary economic geography approach to leisure

“…cut differences between these forms of a similar phenomenon are perhaps not truly required or entirely possible (Mansvelt, 2009;Walmsley, 2003). The potential of leisure in peripheral areas has also received attention in academia (Buijs, Pedroli, & Luginb€ uhl, 2006;Bunce, 2008;Hermans & de Roo, 2006;Macnaghten, 1995;Ravenscroft & Reeves, 1999;Walmsley, 2003).…”

“…The potential of leisure in peripheral areas has also received attention in academia (Buijs, Pedroli, & Luginb€ uhl, 2006;Bunce, 2008;Hermans & de Roo, 2006;Macnaghten, 1995;Ravenscroft & Reeves, 1999;Walmsley, 2003). Research thus far tends to focus on the value of existing leisure services for rural areas (e.g.…”

“…This should lead to benefits for the region that transcend the economic. However, leisure is not to be considered the panacea for all challenges in peripheral areas (Walmsley, 2003). By analyzing leisure-led regional development, we aim to understand how and under which conditions stimulating leisure can positively affect regional development.…”