Even though there isn’t an agreed definition of rurality or remoteness, we can illustrate the set of shared characteristics: geographic isolation, smaller population, greater indigenous population, distinctive occupational and industrial profile. Interestingly, rural and remote areas play an important role in tourism. Top tourism destinations, particularly in developing countries, include national parks, wilderness areas, mountains, lakes, and cultural sites, most of which are generally rural. Thus tourism is already an important feature of the rural economy in these specific sites. This is the reason why we need to think about rural and remote area seriously in terms of tourism. Specifically, there is one kind of tourism which is called rural tourism. This is a good way of improving the life of city dwellers, while bringing a service industry to rural areas. From now on, we can explore rural tourism in relation to rural and remote areas.
As industrialization expanded in the world, many people moved from rural to urban areas. This growth of cities and suburbs has destroyed large areas of forest, and reduced the open spaces which city people can enjoy. As the economy grew and leisure time increased, people began to feel a lack of recreational space and facilities and wanted to spend their leisure time in a healthy way. Thanks to this phenomenon, rural tourism was created. Various activities in rural areas can bring with them positive and negative effects on cultural or natural environments. The positive effects of rural tourism are production of income, occupation and new economic resources for local people, assistance with reducing social unbalanced powers and providing job opportunities for maintaining regional population. We will look the negative effects later.
Following are three websites which are connected rural tourism. First is Official Tourism Portal of Bulgaria. This website allows us to know different kind of tourism. Also it gives information that rural tourism is the best way to get to know the traditions of their country. Tourists can come to appreciate traditional Bulgarian lifestyles and the culture of the country including the local cuisine, the well-preserved folkways, customs and crafts. Through this website, we can see the role of government to advertise their country when it comes to improvement of tourism. This effort will contribute to make rural tourism in one’s country memorable.
Two other websites are Ecotourism Society and Sustainable Travel International. According to them, responsible travel to natural areas is that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. Also their mission is to help destinations, businesses, and travelers develop and implement innovative solutions that protect the environment, support adaptation to climate change, preserve cultural heritage, and generate economic benefits. There is a thread of connections between their values and rural tourism. Therefore, these websites can be good materials in terms of rural tourism.
While many benefits can flow from rural tourism development, there can be problems. One of the challenges is environmental threat. Rural tourism operates within sensitive natural environments. Some of the most attractive tourism destinations have the most sensitive environments. These include sea and lake shorelines, wetlands, high mountain areas, and polar areas. Many studies have highlighted the threats which tourism has already brought to the environment. Intensive skiing has destroyed vegetation and encouraged land-slips; climbing erodes rock faces, and, with modern equipment, destroys their natural condition; walking and riding wears out paths in heavily used areas; noise and litter drive out and injure wild creatures; existing farming practices are upset by fire, dogs and competition for labour. The peace, quiet and authentic nature of the countryside can be seriously compromised. Therefore, preserving natural values in