The General Characteristics Of Rural Tourism And Rural Tourism

Rural tourism is any form of tourism that takes place in rural areas and shows tourists the country life, art, culture, religion and everything that is related with rural life both on natural and cultural activities. Thus it gives the local community a chance to develop economic status, while the tourists have a chance to escape the city to a peaceful environment. The activities which are generated in rural tourism include gastronomic tourism, argo tourism, health and wellness tourism, sport tourism, heritage tourism, etc.

The terms of rural tourism are often interchanged with ecotourism. However, agro-tourism is not the same as ecotourism which is generally a marketing tool to promote the tourist’s lifestyle of caring for the environment, while rural tourism is associated with lack of pollution, contact with pure nature, gastronomic values, and traditional pursuits including local crafts, slow tourism, and a relaxed pace of life. Thus, in conclusion, rural tourism has these general characteristics:

General characteristics of rural tourism

• Peace and quiet

• Contact with pure nature

• Good food and health

• Lack of pollution

• A sense of community

• Tourists motivated by a desire to see something new

• Slow life

• Provide live experiences

The concept of rural tourism has been popular across Europe since the end of eighteenth century and spread to Asia in the twentieth century due to the need to escape from the city. As rural tourism becomes more popular, it inevitably has an impact on both positively and negatively. Rural tourism can be a benefit to local people. However, without adequate planning and monitoring, it may be harmful in sensitive rural regions.

Types of tourism in Rural Areas

The rural areas of Asia and the ...

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...d cities and urban landscapes and yet only thirty km from a city. For many Japanese, Miyama is a nostalgic journey to old Japan. Several of the thatched farmhouses across many of the villages offer lodgings to tourists, and the amenities are quite modern. A lot of the activities available for tourists include:

• Participating in local crafts, such as making pottery or washi (handmade paper);

• During the summer season, tourists can watch local craftsmen build traditional thatched roofs;

• Visit the Kayabuki no Sato Folk museum – a house that now exhibits traditional tools (farm and household) and provides some information regarding the construction of the thatched roofs;

• Little Indigo Museum – another house that now serves as an indigo-dyeing studio and gallery;

• Hiking along the Yura River, or through the Aishu forest;

• Fishing for the local fish (Sweetfish).