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The European Union has an active rural development policy, because this helps to achieve valuable goals for the countryside and for the people who live and work there.
The EU's rural areas are a vital part of its physical make-up and its identity.
According to a standard definition, more than 91% of the territory of the EU is
"rural", and this area is home to more than 56% of the EU's population.
Furthermore, the EU's fantastic range of striking and beautiful landscapes is
among the things that give it its character – from mountains to steppe, from
great forests to rolling out fields.
Looking at the average income per head in rural regions, it is lower than in the
towns and cities. The skills base is narrower and the service sector is less developed.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are key players in rural tourism. Public authorities have to stimulate the SME’s on one hand, and, on the other, they have to take care of the environment. Nature, clean air, culture, historical buildings and castles are essential factors in attracting tourists. The public authorities are largely responsible for these areas. Caring for the rural environment, however, means a financial contribution of the region to maintain and improve it. The European Community is now more targeting at the environmental and social aspects of Tourism. This was neglected in the past on favor of promotional tourism activities.
The European Commission is encouraging sustainable development of tourism and assisting in establishing conditions favorable to sustainable development which will protect the environment and population.
The EC will mainly provide technical aid to help the governments of the countries implement policies encouraging the development of sustainable tourism. These will include establishing the necessary legal and institutional framework, supporting the development of human resources, preserving the public heritage and improving infrastructures. Technical aid is also needed to improve the information and commercial organization of the sector.
The development of the rural tourism sector will vary from one country to another. The strategy for the country will be based on an analysis of the sector aimed, in particular, at identifying the validity of tourist development. The efforts must be targeted according to the level of development in the sector and the needs (short- or long-term aid, aid targeted to a sector or the adoption of a more global approach, etc.).
The national tourism offices and the national tourism administrations have been the main contacts in the past. The range must be extended by consulting more often the private sector, non-governmental organizations and the players involved at the various geographical levels (regional, local, etc.). A more comprehensive and coherent strategy is needed.
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1.1.3. Rural Tourism | Co-operation |
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