Development of Rural Tourism - Research Paper Example

Development of Rural Tourism Proposal In the course of the last few decades, the entire world has experienced substantial changes, as well as socioeconomic alterations. These socioeconomic changes have affected and caused immeasurable stress, especially in marginal, isolated and rural regions of the world (WTO and Inskeep 16). The changes in socioeconomic culture of the world has diminished farm incomes, resulting in high unemployment rates, which, in turn, lead to the mass exodus of the rural productive forces and ultimate lack of demographic balance in rural areas (Pearce and Moscardo 46). It is, therefore, obvious that the need for socioeconomic development and regeneration in the rural areas is vital. This paper will examine the issue of the development of rural tourism as a source of income, growth and development in rural areas. Rural tourism speaks to the essence of focusing on rural areas as tourist destinations by shifting focus from conventional tourist destinations based in urban, mountainous and beach regions. The essence of this paper is to test whether the rural tourism is possible and examine the current rural tourism phenomenon. Development of rural tourism is; thus a promising industry that national, as well as local governments support as a viable vehicle for rural revitalization (Williams, Penrose and Hawkes 871). The development of rural tourism is necessitated by shifting trends in tourists’ behavior and demands. Tourism in rural areas provides the possibility for alternative, authentic tourism experiences that satisfy the needs of highly demanded tourists. Shifting tourism trends provide that tourists now demand country-based recreational activities that are somewhat different from the contemporary resorts and mass tourism destinations. This project proposal is motivated by the fact that, over the last decades, the growth of the tourism industry has been quite dramatic. Traditional tourism development centered on coastal, urban and mountain resorts, as well as cultural centers shows that tourism has enormous benefits to the environment, economy and society (Grybovych 113). However, it is evident that through conventional tourism, various parts of the world remain underdeveloped. Given the built and natural, environmental resources in the rural areas, such areas increasingly seem suitable for rural tourism development. Internationally, governments are presently advocating rural tourism for the sustenance of local economies and enhancement of growth and employment. Rural tourism is a new feature of the tourism industry, providing new opportunities for growth and enjoyment. In recent years, tourism demands for holidays in the countryside and small villages have increased in many parts of the world (Murphy and Murphy 93). This research focuses on the development of rural tourism globally with numerous rural islands, country sides and unconventional tourism destinations. Although rural tourism is new in the tourism industry, the global arena provides a rather unique opportunity for the study of rural tourism, which forms the purpose of this research. Research objectives 1. To examine the degree to which rural tourism improves the economy of nations. 2. To highlight and assess the demand for rural tourism across the world. 3. To identify and assess if supply meets the aforementioned demand. Methodology This research will primarily take an exploratory approach, extensively exploring literature on rural tourism in the world, as well as carrying out a survey-based study (Babbie and Benaquisto 12). This research study will test independent variables such as the demand, supply and essence of rural tourism on the global front. These independent variables are valuable areas of study as they innately affect the variable of development or rural tourism (Weeks 49). To accomplish the aforementioned objectives, this research will use questionnaires completed in semi-structured and face-to-face interviews with clients of two tourist agencies in Toronto. Tourist agencies are an integral component of this research as tourist agencies have hands-on experiences with tourist bookings to rural areas of the world. The aim of this quantitative research method is to acquire familiarity with the issue of rural tourism in the world, gaining a deeper appreciation of the topic at hand. The research will take place between April and June 2012. Questionnaire This part of the research is expected to furnish answers as to the scope of rural tourism in the nation and elsewhere across the globe. The benefits associated with this research include the realization of viable, alternatives to traditional tourism, as well as finding out the essence of rural tourism in the tourism industry. There are no risks involved in this research and the participant has the right not to answer any questions deemed inappropriate. One is permissible to withdraw from the interview process. Names and other identifying information are not required for this part of the study; therefore, confidentiality is guaranteed and shall be safeguarded. Part A 1. Have you ever taken a rural holiday? [ ] yes [ ] no 2. If yes, how many times have you taken a rural holiday before? [ ] 1-3 [ ] 4-6 [ ] 7 or more 3. If this is not your initial visit to a rural destination, when was your last visit? [ ] Year ________________ [ ] Month ______________ 4. How long did your visit last? [ ] 2-4 days [ ] 5-10 days [ ] More than 10 days 5. Which rural tourism destination(s) have you visited and in which country. __________________________ in _____________________________ __________________________ in _____________________________ __________________________ in _____________________________ 6. Which means did you use for travelling? [ ] Private car [ ] Motorbike [ ] Hired vehicle [ ] Tour bus [ ] Public bus [ ] Other 7. Under which group of tourist do you fall? [ ] Tour group [ ] Friends [ ] Family 8. [ ] Partner/spouse [ ] Other specify___________________________ 9. What is the purpose of the current visit? [ ] Business [ ] Recreation [ ] Site seeing [ ] Visiting friends/family [ ] Rural house experience [ ] On holiday 10. How did you learn about rural tourism prior to your first visit? [ ] Brochure [ ] Travel exhibition [ ] Newspaper/ magazine [ ] Word of mouth [ ] Tourism information centers [ ] Family/ friends Part B 11. Have you experienced difficulties finding information on accommodation in rural houses? [ ] yes [ ] no 12. Have you experienced difficulties travelling to the rural area? [ ] yes [ ] no 13. On a scale of 1 to 5, how adequate are the facilities in rural tourism destinations? [ ] 1- Totally inadequate [ ] 2-Relatively inadequate [ ] 3- Inadequate [ ] 4- Adequate [ ] 5-Extremely adequate 14. On a scale of 1 to 5 (five being the best), rate the following facilities in rural areas. [ ] Restaurants [ ] Toilets [ ] Public transport [ ] Retail shops [ ] Recreational facilities 15. Considering everything, did you enjoy your last visit to a rural destination? [ ] Yes, fantastic [ ] Yes, good [ ] Reasonably [ ] Not quite [ ] Do not know 16. Do you plan to visit a rural destination again? [ ] Yes, absolutely [ ] Yes [ ] Maybe [ ] Never Part C 17. What is your nationality ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________________________________ 18. Gender [ ] Male [ ] Female 19. Age category [ ] 20-25 [ ] 26-30 [ ] 31-39 [ ] 40-49 [ ] 50 + 20. Please provide your marital status [ ] Single [ ] Married [ ] Separated/divorced [ ] Widowed [ ] Other 21. Number of children below the age of five years. 22. [ ] 1-2 [ ] 3-5 [ ] Above 5 23. What was your family’s income last year? [ ] Below $25,000 [ ] $25 – $30,000 [ ] $31- $49,000 [ ] $50- $79,000 [ ] $80,000 and above Thank you for your participation. Ethics As earlier mentioned, this research bears no risks to the participants. All research papers showing identification details will be discarded and their content dismissed as inadmissible to maintain participants’ confidentiality. Work Cited Babbie, E., and Benaquisto, L. Fundamentals of social research. (2nd ed.). Toronto: Nelson Education, 2010. Print. Grybovych, O. "Sustainable practices of community tourism planning: lessons from a remote community". Journal of the Community Development Society. 15 (2002). Print. Murphy, P.E. and Murphy, A.E. “Planning”. In P.E. Murphy & A.E. Murphy (Eds.), Strategic management for tourism communities (pp. 86-112). New York: Channel View Publications, 2004. Print. Pearce, P.L. and Moscardo, G. “Tourism community analysis: Asking the right questions”. In D.G. Pearce & R.W. Butler (Eds.), Contemporary issues in tourism development (pp. 31-51). London: Routledge, 1999. Print. Weeks, E.C. Deliberative democracy. London: McGraw Hill Publishers, 2003. Print. Williams, P.W., Penrose, R.W. and Hawkes, S.. Shared decision-making in tourism land use planning. Annals of Tourism Research, 25.4.(1998) 860-889. Print. World Tourism Organization (WTO) and Inskeep, E. National and regional tourism planning: Methodologies and case studies. New York: Routledge. 1994. Print. Read More