The report also identifies the main challenges and opportunities for tourism as a driver for rural development from a policy perspective.
The report is titled : Tourism and Rural Development: A Policy Perspective - Results of the UNWTO Survey on Tourism for Rural Development to Member States, and represents UNWTO’s first baseline document on tourism and rural development undertaken with the participation of Member States worldwide.
Its findings are that :
more than half of all Member States (59%) stated that rural tourism is a priority
lmost all (96%) foresee a better future for rural tourism in the upcoming years
the creation of new jobs, improvement of livelihoods and fighting depopulation were the most frequently-cited opportunities offered by tourism for rural areas, and
member States also identified the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage and environmental protection as among the biggest potential benefits of rural tourism.
The UNWTO research also identified three main challenges associated with realizing the potential of tourism for rural development:
the infrastructure gap in rural areas with deficiencies in roads, ports, airports and other infrastructure
rural depopulation, and
the lack of education and training, as well as skills development, in addition to the capacity to attract and retain workforce talent.
Tourism and Rural Development: A Policy Perspective - Results of the UNWTO Survey on Tourism for Rural Development to Member States : www.e-unwto.org/doi/10.18111/9789284424306
UNWTO: Rural Tourism : www.unwto.org/rural-tourism
*Source: Athena Man at athena@prm-global.com
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