Rural Tourism Development
Modern
tourism industry is changing under the influence of global economic changes ,
changes in public attitudes and trends that arise from this . Global crisis ,
climate change, population growth , the problem of poverty and hunger form a
modern system of views on the world around us . One important element of the
community response to changes in the nature become global acceptance of the
concept of sustainable development. The main document of this concept is
considered worldwide strategy for Nature Protection , adopted in 1980 , where
he first used the term "sustainable development" and the report
" Our Common Future" International Commission on Environment and
Development in 1987 . The leading ideas of the concept of sustainable
development : " development that meets the needs of the present generation
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs". It should be noted that the tourism industry - one of the
demonstration in the use of natural resources of the area by people living on
it , as well as newcomers to the territory for their operation .
Depending
on the purpose of the trip , a desire for a particular travel experience , as
well as the chosen tourist destination , distinguish many types of tourism.
Objectives of sustainable development and the need to reduce anthropogenic
stress reflect a steady, gentle, rural, agricultural , farm , green, and other
types of tourism . Interesting in terms of displacement of territorial and
personal preferences for us tourists are rural, agricultural and farm tourism.
Due to the emergence of new forms of tourism such as sustainable , rural ,
soft, farm , agritourism, it is necessary to introduce them into the existing
classification and to determine their relationship with other species.
One
type of ecotourism is a rural tourism ( agritourism )
A
sector of the tourism industry , focused on the use of natural , cultural -
historical and other resources of the countryside and its features to create an
integrated tourism product. In recent years in many regions of Nepal, there has
been a active development based on tourism which include rafting cycling,
trekking, mountaineering, cultural tourism, sightseeing and bird watching. Most
of all the tourism activities take place in the rural areas or villages. The
major issues remains that the tourism income is not being shared by all parts
of the country, it remains confined to the major trekking trails and
destinations such as Everest, Langtang Annpurna, Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan
region. This has led to tourism entrepreneurs and development workers to seek
alternative ways to diversify the tourism benefits to other parts of the
country as well in par with environment conservation. Nepal’s rural settings
also provide a strong foundation to promote rural tourism because of its unique
lifestyle, unspoiled culture and tradition. If marketed in an innovative way,
it can bring out tourism benefits in the
villages that are off the main trekking trails and help create off-farm
employment. Nepal has more than 101 ethnic groups and 92 spoken languages and a
rich variety of cultures, lifestyles, values and traditions. And if people of
Nepal, especially in the rural areas use these aspects then rural tourism will
be more successful than any other form of tourism. Although the law and the
interim constitution provided equal rights to all ethnic groups and religious
groups, Nepal is characterized by a highly stratified social system, resulting
in the presence of many castes. In all the villages there are higher caste groups and lower caste groups The lower caste
groups are often denoted as occupational castes’. While higher castes host the
guests, lower castes are not included in any tourism activity. Usually the main
difference between the higher castes and lower castes is the socio-economic
status. Bitter but true, that is due to the lack of alternative options, the
youth and the productive forces of the rural areas are compelled to emigrate
either to big cities or abroad. More than 80 per cent of people live in the
rural areas where the main occupation is farming and non farming occupation is
rare , which make the emigration from these areas to big cities and foreign
countries inevitable.
It
is quite threatening for a developing country to lose its youth that way. The
country might just fail to fulfill its goals if the situation is not improved.
What will the youth do if they have no work opportunities in their own village?
It is very understandable that people move from place to place in search for
better living conditions and a better future. This phenomenon has been going on
ever since the mankind settled on Earth. And it is also true that nobody likes
leaving their birthplace and country for good, if everything they need is
available there to tackle this situation, the concept of village tourism was
introduced for the first time in Nepal in Sirubari village. The village is
located at an altude of 1,700 meter above sea level and one can reach Sirubari
either by Jeep ride from district headquarter Syangja bazaar (Putalibazar) or
by bus/jeep ride from Naundada along the Pokhara-Sunauli highway (Siddhartha
highway). However, the trip from heluLamachaur (about 50 km south of Pokhara)
along the same highway offers the joint experience of adventure travel and
short trekking along the lush green valley and terraced farm land of
Darau-Khola and then uphill climb of about 2 hours from Arjun Chaupari.
Visitors can choose either to walk (maximum of 4 hours) from Helu-Lamachaur up
to the village via Arjun Chaupari or can ride on bus or Jeep up to Arjun
Chaupari and then have a short trek. Nepal Village Resorts (NVR), a Kathmandu
based travel agency serving as a marketing agency of the village tourism
product of Sirubari, states that the first commercial group of 16 Belgian
tourists were taken to Sirubari in October 1997. Thus , rural tourism allows
each traveler to not only relax in the lap of nature, but also to feel the
traditions and customs of the local population, and which includes the study of
local tourism resources, the participation of tourists in various traditional
activities also includes accommodation and meals organized tourists in specific
tourist structures : tourist apartments, agro pensions, peasant economy , etc.
Based
on the regional peculiarities of manifestation of tourism and the conditions of
its development, we assume that rural tourism - an activity which is organized
in the countryside, in which are provided for guests and comprehensive services
for accommodation , recreation , meals , excursions, leisure activities and
sporting events, engaged in active forms of tourism , organization of fishing ,
hunting, and the acquisition of knowledge and skills. We assume that this kind
of tourism is focused on the use of agricultural , natural, cultural,
historical and other resources of the countryside and its specificity to create
an integrated tourism product.
We
assume concepts of agriculture, rural and agro synonymous. This approach will
allow us to avoid confusion in the practical implementation of the concept of
rural tourism, which in modern conditions has a number of related and
interconnected concepts and manifestations , " benign" on the effects
on the environment and local community and friends for motivation - types of
tourism (including rural, farm , rustic , sports , culinary , adventure ,
extreme , etc.) are often combined into a single field of eco- agrotourism
.Despite the fact that rural tourism - a new phenomenon , the history of the
development of tourism as a species began its development in Western Europe in
the 60s and 70s of the last century . Geographically, this phenomenon is mainly
concentrated in the rural areas of France , Italy, Germany. The main objective
of this type of tourism was the preservation of rural communities through the
revival of crafts and increasing entrepreneurial activity. To date , rural
tourism - one of the most promising types of tourism having a positive impact
on the sustainable development of the territory and economic benefits . Thus,
in France every third tourist - a rural tourist in the UK 10 % of entrepreneurs
doing business in the countryside, offering services in the field of rural
tourism , in Germany, 4%.To date have
developed several national European organization models of rural tourism :
British, French , German , Italian, Czech , Spanish , Polish and Russian model
.
Characteristic
features of the British system of placing models are providing as contact with
the family farmer and the possibility of self-service , as well as due to
advanced riding culture , practice frequent contact with animals , rides .
British model includes elements of cognitive and ecological tourism.
French
model includes a variety of classical forms of rural tourism , varying
depending on the proximity to the sea. Also, the model assumes a greater bias
towards gastronomic and wine tourism . Forms of tourist accommodation to a
lesser extent suggest stay with the farmer ; tourists accommodated in the
cottages .
The
German model , compared with the French , very characteristic accommodation and
food in the house of a farmer. Rural tourism also tends to the farm to work
directly in the field or in the garden. Event tourism is also necessary to
include, in this model , to agriculture, since frequent trips of residents to
the countryside during the festivals.
The
Italian model is divided into three main areas on the specifics of services.
This combination of a typical holiday in the countryside with the restoration
of health (ecotourism ) , the study of gastronomy and local products , which
differ because of their territorial location , as well as sports. Accommodation
of tourists going in apartments and rooms. Sometimes there are campgrounds .
Czech
countryside attracts holiday in the famous wine-producing regions and regions
bordering the reserve. For the Czech Republic is a relatively recent form of
recreation in the village , so entrepreneurs are inclined to regard it as an
opportunity to diversify their agribusiness. The most common type of tourism combines
visiting horse farms and immersion in an authentic rural lifestyle .
Spanish
model - one of the most developed . Distributed holiday in the countryside ,
farm holiday , acquaintance with life , gastronomy , care for animals .
Polish
model has clear lines of farms taking tourists to those for whom it is the only
business and those who see tourism activities as a source of additional income.
Accommodation facilities vary in cost and quality of services provided
In
Russia, rural tourism - is a form of relaxation , which involves finding a
tourist in rural areas with a population of locals to 5000 or in the settlement
, and providing him personalized services related to immersion in life ,
lifestyle and traditions of the farmer. Feature understanding of rural tourism
in Russia - it should employ and generate income to the people who live
directly in the locality where the tourists came . This allows us to consider
the Russian model of rural tourism as a tool for development of the territory ,
and not only as a form of tourism . Accommodation - up to 20 beds , the number
of places for
tourists
to 50% of their places of permanent residence. Conduct outreach and mass
tourist reception , according to the criteria of the Russian model cannot be
considered rural tourism . It is not recommended activities include active
sports, golf , camping grounds, skiing. Supported by a high level of local
cooperation and cooperation to achieve the overall effect , including economic
.
Based
on the characteristics of world models of rural tourism, it can be concluded
that the development of tourism in rural areas - is a tool of redistribution
model to bridge the gap between the most backward rural areas and other
sectors. This model includes the following provisions: rural areas are
considered primarily as underdeveloped areas , structurally lagging behind the
development of urban areas due to unfavorable natural and socio- economic
factors; The need to develop applied in this model requires diversification of
the income of agricultural enterprises , since agriculture is the mainstay of
production in these areas. At the same time, the model recognizes that
agriculture cannot be the only lever that can be used to bridge the gap between
these areas and the rest of the economy . Thus we can say the most important
purpose of rural tourism development is economic and social development of the
rural areas. Rural Nepal has much to offer beyond agriculture. It has a great
potentiality for different growing segments of tourism like Ecotourism,
Cultural tourism, agrtourism, religious tourism etc. Rich in traditions of art,
culture and natural resources of village of Nepal can emerged as an important
tourist spot. There is a scope of rural tourism in Nepal, with village having
the resources, man power and a down to-earth approach that is in sharp contrast
with the five star culture of tourism in city areas. Here, rural tourism
promotes the local economy, soci cultural changes and life style of the people
residing in and around the village.
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