Although the European tourism sector has faced several challenges in the recent
decade, it still grants number one destination status to the European Union Member
States (EU-27). It represents the third largest economic sector in the EU (Risk &
Policy Analysts Limited, 2012). Meanwhile its job creation rate since 2000 stands
above average of the European economy as a whole (Thompson, Bryden, &
Psaltopoulos, 2011).
In its 2010 Communication
13, the Commission has highlighted the importance of
the tourism sector to the European economy as the sector continues to employ 5.2%
of the total workforce, mainly young people, and it accounts for more than 5% of the
EU -27’s GDP, the share of which is constantly rising. In its Communication, a new
political framework has been proposed for the European tourism policy and
prescribed set of actions, to ensure that tourism remains a competitive, sustainable and
responsible industry.
Tourism plays a significant role in the development of European regions; it is an
important employment generator that helps sustain jobs and also promote jobs, as in
13 The European Commission (2010) Europe, the world’s No 1 tourist destination – a new political
framework for tourism in Europe, European Commission (COM (2010)352 final) is also known as 2010 Communication.
rural areas, where it can act as an agriculture-replacing or complementing sector. It
contributes to sustainable development by enhancing the natural and cultural heritage
and shaping of the destination region’s identity. Through infrastructure development,
jobs and wealth creation tourism enhances local development and social cohesion,
especially in rural and remote areas.
Tourism, including the rural tourism sector, is represented mainly by small and
medium enterprises, family owned businesses with less than 50 employees (Risk &
Policy Analysts Limited, 2012; DG for Internal Policies, 2013; Fleischer &
Felsenstein, 2000), and this might have been one reason why this sector has overcome
the economic down-turn better than any other sector during the 2008-2009 period of
crisis. The literature reveals that small and medium businesses perform well in
employment generation and they provide opportunities to make contact with local
residents and cultures that are important for tourist attraction (Cawley & Gillmor,
2008). In terms of employment and income generation, rural tourism accounts for 10-
20% of rural income and employment, twice more than the average of European
tourism’s income and employment (DG for Internal Policies, 2013).
In its adopted resolution in 2011, European Parliament underlines the importance
of supporting rural tourism and agro-tourism, as they “improve the quality of life,
bring economic and income-source diversity to rural areas, create jobs in these
regions, keep people there and thus prevent depopulation and establish a direct link
with the promotion of traditional, ecological and natural food products.”
14Rural tourism frequently remains a development option, particularly in rural areas
that lack economic growth, poor regions or those undergoing structural changes,
while still exhibiting different performance levels (economic, social and
environmental) from one region to another. Besides agriculture being a main pillar of
economic development, local entrepreneurs perceive rural tourism as an important
factor in the economic performance of rural areas (Efstratoglou, Psaltopoulos,
14 P7_Ta (2011)0407, Tourism in Europe. European Parliament resolution of 27 September 2011 on
Europe, the world’s No 1 tourist destination – a new political framework for tourism in Europe (2010/2206(INI)). Retrieved from http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=- //EP//NONSGML+TA+P7-TA-2011-0407+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN
Giannakis, Kampas, & Papadas, 2011). In terms of economic improvement the
integration and added value to production, as part of tourism’s product development
process, has led to creation of new clusters of enterprises that collaborate with each
other and establish partnerships. Partnerships and collaboration among various sectors
facilitate business development (Murdoch, 2000).
Increased value in primary production and food processing has also led to
expanded markets with increased numbers of tourists who become more and more
aware of local production of tourist destination areas (Hjalager, 2011).
Rural tourism is also important in terms of rural heritage conservation (cultural
and natural); it contributes to the maintenance of rural landscapes directly through the
renovation and use of local buildings and facilities, or through valorization of artistic
works or other buildings that bring income from visitors. Local events, created at first
to serve the agriculture and food sectors, have increasingly opened to people outside
the sector, including visitors/tourists, and this ensured the survival of local events and
helped to maintain traditions, but it also led to adjustments in the products and
exhibitions presented and organized in rural areas (Hjalager, 2011).
Rural tourism directly depends on the natural environment as an attraction for
visitors; therefore, its sustainability heavily depends on the management and
maintenance of natural values. On the other hand, rural tourism affects the resources
on which it depends, both positively and negatively. Anyhow, changing consumer
patterns, with an increasing number of tourists choosing locally and regionally
produced food, products and services that reduce transport distances, have fostered
the development of “green tourism” initiatives that benefit local and regional
economies without harming the cultural identity and natural assets of the rural areas.
Environmentally conscious visitors are willing to pay more for natural and
culturally distinctive destinations, and this fosters investments and initiatives towards
greening, by use of renewable energy resources, intelligent waste management, water
management and biodiversity conservation (OECD, 2013). In this regard, the tourists’
rising awareness of and demand for local products, the protection and safeguarding of
public goods, the needs of businesses to reduce costs and increase competitiveness,
the policies for environmental protection, initiatives for conservation of natural and
social resources and technology improvements are among the main drivers that
facilitate greening in tourism and efficient use of natural resources (OECD, 2013). In
its report, Green Innovation in Tourism Services, the OECD (2013) recognizes
tourism’s role as an important driver of growth in the world economy and as one of
the key sectors defining trends in the transition to a green economy. It also
acknowledges that, however small improvements toward sustainability may be, the
effects are still important.
Because of its tendency to interlink with other sectors, tourism contributes to the
general growth of local industry by using local resources for transport, services and
food, and by contributing to local income generation and employment multipliers. In
this regard, at the EU level many policies that might have influence on and relevance
to tourism have been screened to capitalize on the synergies and mainstream the
tourism activities into policy programs (RPA Limited, 2012).
Although tourism’s contribution to rural development has been widely recognized
in the literature, it is not always seen as a positive way to find solutions for rural
economic problems due to its poor income for farmers and only seasonal employment
(Sharpley, 2002; Fleischer & Felsenstein, 2000), and might disrupt economic and
social connections and degrade the cultural and natural values of rural areas
(Beckmann & Dissing, 2007).
Rural development in the past has focused on exogenous approaches by
emphasizing resources coming from outside to stimulate and stir development
(exogenous development); with the new political frameworks, greater emphasis is
placed on endogenous development, using local resources including human ones.
Actions lacking appropriate consultation and consideration of local needs (including
in tourism), environmental conservation and well-being in rural communities, could
damage the local context and create more harm than good (Beckmann & Dissing,
2007; Briedenhann & Wickens, 2004). Unfortunately, practices lacking sustainable
development in tourism incurred social costs to local communities, including those in
less developed areas and countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
Despite the fact that the EU 15 have embedded tourism in the rural economy, a
higher growth potential for tourism activities exists in the new member states that yet
have the space and unrevealed resources for further exploitation (ECORYS, 2010).
When the aim is to bring economic and social development to rural communities,
tourism should make its impact by “clear improvement in the conditions of life and
livelihood of ordinary people” (Friedmann, 1992, cited by Briedenhann & Wickens,
2004).
3.4
Agro-tourism: a new perspective for agriculture sustainability;
In document
Las religiones del mundo - Huston Smith.pdf
(página 55-64)