Methodology for Evaluating the Rural Tourism Potentials: A Tool to Ensure Sustainable Development of Rural Settlements

Sustainability

Alexander Trukhachev¹ 

[1] Department of Tourism and Service, Stavropol State Agrarian University, 12, Zootekhnichesky Ave, 355017 Stavropol, Russia; E-Mail

关键词: rural tourism;    tourism potential;    sustainable development;    rural territories;    agricultural production;    diversification;    alternative sources of income;   

DOI  :  10.3390/su7033052

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The paper analyses potentials, challenges and problems of the rural tourism from the point of view of its impact on sustainable rural development. It explores alternative sources of income for rural people by means of tourism and investigates effects of the rural tourism on agricultural production in local rural communities. The aim is to identify the existing and potential tourist attractions within the rural areas in Southern Russia and to provide solutions to be introduced in particular rural settlements in order to make them attractive for tourists. The paper includes the elaboration and testing of a methodology for evaluating the rural tourism potentials using the case of rural settlements of Stavropol Krai, Russia. The paper concludes with a ranking of the selected rural settlements according to their rural tourist capacity and substantiation of the tourism models to be implemented to ensure a sustainable development of the considered rural areas.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.