Sustainable Tourism in Rural Europe

Rural Europe is a highly developed tourism region, representing advanced tourism experience and supposed modern approaches to this industry. That said, it remains highly sensitive and fragile in terms of environmental, social, economic and cultural impacts. This volume focuses on rural Europe as a fascinating example of how tourism development impacts on the communities and the environment of rural regions and offers insights into how long term sustainability could be achieved in this specific region and correspondingly in other rural parts of the world. Sustainable Tourism in Rural Europe contains contributions from leading international scholars that review and analyse the concept and practice of sustainable tourism in this region through a multidisciplinary approach that embodies the view that sustainable tourism warrants a holistic approach in terms of its impacts and development potential. Divided into three sections: Key Themes and Issues; The State and Development; The Local Community and Development, this book addresses contentious and vital issues through theory, detailed research and case studies, offering real world approaches to sustainable development, showing problems including local politics which challenge abstract models. It introduces cutting edge research dealing with contemporary developments throughout Europe and consequential lessons/implications for other rural parts of the world. This volume will be of interest to students, researchers and academics in the areas of Tourism, Geography and Environmental Studies.

Dr Donald V.L. Macleod, Senior Lecturer, University of Glasgow, has researched in the Caribbean, the Canary Islands and Scotland. His research interests include globalisation and cultural change, power, cultural heritage, identity, and sustainable tourism, all with a focus on international comparison and development. Dr Steven A. Gillespie is a University Teacher at the University of Glasgow, lecturing in the fields of Carbon Management and Environmental Stewardship. His research interests include population ecology, non-native species and more recently ecological attitudes, agritourism, tourism sustainability and climate change.

1. Introduction Section 1: Key Themes and Issues 2. Sustainable Tourism and the Changing Rural Scene in Europe 3. Tourism Mobility, Locality and Sustainable Rural Development 4. European Union, Sustainable Tourism Policy and Rural Europe 5. Ecotourism in the Wider Rural Context 6. Tourism in Semi-Rural Environments: Sustainability Issues and Experience from the Baltic States Section 2: The State and Development 7. The Impact of European Union Funding on Coastal Tourism in Yorkshire 8. A Canary Island in the Context of Sustainable Tourism Development 9. The Role of Destination Management Organisations: Models for Sustainable Rural Destinations in Scotland? 10. Pilgrimage, Tourism, and the Cultural Industries in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Palestine: Reporting from two European Commission TEMPUS projects 11. Views About the Scale and Types of Tourism Development in the Rural Periphery: The Case of Gozo Section 3: The Local Community and Development 12. Approaches Towards Development of Sustainable Recreational Fishing: A Case Study from the Nemunas Delta, Lithuania 13. From Obsolescent Fish Farm to Developing Ecotourism Destination: The Aranyponty ("Golden Carp") Fishponds Complex in Rural Hungary 14. From Fishing Industry to 'Fish Porn': Tourism Transforming Place 15. Agritourism Characteristics and Contributions to Destination Livelihood Sustainability: A Case Study From South-West Scotland 16. Moorsbus: Towards a Holistic Approach to Rural Bus Services in the North York Moors National Park 17. Cultural Tourism Clusters: Experiences From Ireland 18. Conclusion