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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 August 2024) | Viewed by 16197

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Dr. Nicholas Wise

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Guest Editor

School of Community Resources and Development, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Interests: destination development; events; sports tourism; placemaking; competitiveness; urban and rural regeneration
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Dear Colleagues,

From a destination development standpoint, tourism is an important drive for revitalizing areas, as tourism helps fund new ways of marketing these areas to attract visitors (Dinis et al., 2019). Rural areas have often been romanticized destinations for people to escape to so they can reconnect with past generational roots and culture. Such tourism has often catered to regional or domestic tourists (Gartner, 2004), but events extend destination marketing and act as spectacles, which is leading to more international exposure (Richards, 2017). Researchers have long tried to gauge how well residents support rural destination development (Andereck et al., 2005; Wilson et al., 2001), and a general consensus is that community support is integral to tourism success (Đurkin and Wise, 2018; Maguire, 2019). However, while rural areas see a regular flow of visitors that is often seasonal, events and recreational activities can change the dynamics of places and can increase visitation at different times during the year and during different seasons.

Attracting investment to support tourism development and operations can be difficult in rural areas where locals are not as accustomed to high visitation yields. However, tourism opportunities, new events, or recreational activities are a chance to attract visitors to urban hinterlands. Tourism developments often align with wider regional strategies. While much attention is often focused on urban developments, it is important to pay attention to more rural and remote areas as well. Sustainable rural development is an attempt by regional planners to enhance the use of spaces and places with potential, especially when it comes to tourism, events and recreational activity. The wider need to focus on in rural areas is understanding how such attractions and activities enhance regional competitiveness.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. I encourage authors to send papers that cover any aspect of tourism, events, or recreation development in rural areas, the only features that all articles need to include are implications that show how the paper makes a contribution to theory, policy, or practice.

I look forward to discussing and receiving your contributions.

Dr. Nicholas Wise
Guest Editor

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Keywords

rural studies
rural tourism
rural destination development
sustainability in recreation
rural events
placemaking
community
regeneration
rural image
place attachment
nature
touristification

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 19480 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The User Perception at the Urban Scale, Local Characteristics and Recommendations: The Example of Morphou in Northern Cyprus

by Atiye Bıçak Özal and Zihni Turkan

Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7456; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177456 - 29 Aug 2024

Viewed by 608

Abstract

The recent changes and developments in the physical, economic, and population structure in Northern Cyprus have led to the emergence of ideas about the scale of cities and protection of urban life. The pursuit of improving the quality of life in settlements while preserving the local features channel the solution proposals towards the practice of cittaslow. This study aims to examine the district of Morphou and develop recommendations based on the aforementioned approaches. Hence, the current physical status of the city was analysed, and several arguments were developed regarding the intervention zones towards the principles of cittaslow in accordance with the public perception. In our study, physical analyses and qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys, were used within the framework of a literature review and field study. In consideration with analyses and surveys, the existing status and future perspective of Morphou were identified, and some recommendations were presented for the city regarding the concept of cittaslow. As a result of the research and studies carried out, the location, physical structure, population, transportation facilities, and agriculturally suitable topography of Güzelyurt city reveal that it is an important factor for this place to be a slow city. In addition, all the analyses we conducted regarding the city and the results of the participants’ evaluations show that the city complies with the cittaslow criteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Rural Development through Tourism, Events, and Recreation)

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16 pages, 256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Challenges to Managing Cultural Routes: The Visitor Perspective

by Elena Rudan, Danijela Madžar and Vedran Zubović

Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 7164; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167164 - 21 Aug 2024

Viewed by 991

Abstract

In recent decades, cultural routes have become increasingly important in the tourism offerings of rural destinations. It is vital to identify the factors that visitors consider important to their satisfaction with a cultural route and its overall impact on a tourist destination. This paper employs Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to investigate the dimensions of visitor satisfaction on cultural routes. A survey assessed satisfaction with 37 specific aspects of a cultural route in a tourist destination, revealing three key dimensions: satisfaction with destination characteristics, tourism infrastructure, and the cultural roots offerings. The findings highlight the need to move beyond traditional models of tourist satisfaction that focus on specific experiences and instead explore overall factors contributing to tourist satisfaction with a destination. The study examines cultural routes in rural regions of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in Croatia and neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. The scientific findings have significant implications for cultural route managers, aiding in the innovation and creation of offerings that will enhance tourist and visitor satisfaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Rural Development through Tourism, Events, and Recreation)

22 pages, 2523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

(Re)shaping the Tourists’ Imagined Identity of Mosuo towards Sustainable Ethnic Tourism Development in Southwest China

by Huichao Feng and Jieling Xiao

Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 7042; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167042 - 16 Aug 2024

Viewed by 927

Abstract

Ethnic tourism development has emerged as a vital strategy in ethnic regions to drive local economic growth and improve the quality of life. However, numerous ethnic areas have undergone transformation to accommodate tourism and commercial advancement, with little regard for the conservation of their cultural values. Therefore, the aim of this study is to enhance the cultural tourism attributes and construct place identities from the tourists’ perspective. By conducting fieldwork in Zhaishi village of Yongning Township and Lige village near Lugu Lake, encompassing semi-structured interviews with professionals and questionnaires for tourists, we explore the relationship between the “imagined” and “perceived” identity from the tourists’ perspective and the constructed identity from the authorities’ perspective in two Mosuo villages in China. The findings suggest that the local government should focus on the (re)shaping of tourists’ imagined identity and perceived identities. The results of this study provide policy recommendations for the future development of tourism in the Mosuo region, thereby enriching the perspective of ethnic tourism research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Rural Development through Tourism, Events, and Recreation)

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20 pages, 2298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Landscape Indicators—An Inventive Approach for the Sustainability of Landscapes

by Roula Aad, Rodrigue el Balaa, Challita Tanios and Nabil Nemer

Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 4887; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16124887 - 7 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1778

Abstract

Despite the prerequisite tools of sustainability, there is an arising need to particularly assess landscape sustainability (LS). In this regard, no quantitative approach was identified, neither locally nor internationally. The main objective of this current study is to design a new set of Landscape Indicators (LIs) and a new scheme of LS assessment. Accordingly, an inventive mixed research method was adopted, including different techniques, diverse data categories, and extensive analysis. 15 potential tools were examined, and 51 indicators were prioritized based on an inventive four-dimensional approach to LS. Diverse landscape experts and local stakeholders were consulted to justify the choice of LIs. Site visits and the different aspects of international and local policies were also considered. The new identified set of LIs was applied at Tannourine Cedar Forest Nature Reserve, North Lebanon. While some LIs showed a need for further attention, transformative management was proposed to actively present the unique identity of the reserve and make it a true sustainable Lebanese landscape. Remarkably, this research led to the establishment, for the first time, of an educational tool for landscape sustainability assessment, the LSA tool, that will help decision-makers towards landscape correction, conservation, or even protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Rural Development through Tourism, Events, and Recreation)

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30 pages, 30850 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Contribution of Tourism to Sustainable Rural Development in Peripheral Mining Spaces: The Riotinto Mining Basin (Andalusia, Spain)

by María Bahamonde-Rodríguez, Giedrė Šadeikaitė and Francisco Javier García-Delgado

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010443 - 4 Jan 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2012

Abstract

Since the middle of the 20th century, the crisis of industrial mining activities in Western Europe has caused the cessation of mining, triggering a structural crisis. The necessity to look for alternatives has been widely discussed; among these alternatives, tourist activities based on mining heritage stand out. However, it is essential to address the study of those unattractive peripheral spaces in which new activities encounter obstacles to their development and face post-industrial and rural crises. The Riotinto Mining Basin (Huelva, Andalusia) represents an example of such rural spaces; it has an enormous cultural heritage, and the mine has recently been reactivated. The objective of this research is to analyze the contribution of mining tourism to sustainable rural development. The applied methodology was mixed and was based on interviews and secondary data. The results are (a) the achievement of the tourism value of the mining heritage; (b) the difficulties tourism faces in overcoming its peripheral condition; (c) the relative contribution of tourism to the improvement of the territorial image; (d) the lack of coordination among stakeholders; and (e) the limited contribution of tourism to sustainable rural development and its movement to a secondary economic role after the reopening of the mine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Rural Development through Tourism, Events, and Recreation)

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15 pages, 257 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Revitalizing Rural Tourism: A Croatian Case Study in Sustainable Practices

by Marina Funduk, Ivana Biondić and Abra Lea Simonić

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010031 - 19 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2914

Abstract

Dubrovnik-Neretva County, renowned for the City of Dubrovnik, grapples with tourism challenges affecting its UNESCO-listed Old City. This study advocates for promoting less-explored inland areas to ease the strain on the heritage site and alleviate coastal tourist pressure. By diversifying tourism and supporting sustainable rural development, the region can spur economic growth, foster local businesses, and improve infrastructure through EU and national funding. The research explores financial investments in less-developed areas, emphasizing sustainable tourism practices for socio-economic and environmental benefits. The analysis highlights the project’s positive impact on sustainable tourism development inland, preserving natural heritage, and fostering economic benefits for local communities. According to the cost–benefit analysis, the proposed idea outperforms all alternatives with new attractions and enhanced infrastructure, contributing to overall municipal growth. External funding is crucial for viability, with a negative net income until 2040, offset by municipal support. Economic indicators justify social and economic benefits, emphasizing project resilience. The active tourism centre project, emphasizing eco-friendly outdoor activities, highlights the role of cost–benefit analysis in rural tourism infrastructure investment, recommending external funding for success. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Rural Development through Tourism, Events, and Recreation)

19 pages, 4751 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ignored Opinions: Villager-Satisfaction-Based Evaluation Method of Tourism Village Development—A Case Study of Two Villages in China

by Naifei Liu, Kaijian Yue and Xiaoyue Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 15726; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215726 - 8 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1389

Abstract

The neglect of endogenous strength is one of the reasons for the lack of sustainability in mountainous rural development and tourism development in China at present. How to incorporate the opinions of villagers in the tourism development process led by the government and other external entities is the main focus of this article. Based on the fieldwork of two typical mountainous villages and a previous rural development evaluation method, this article proposes the villager-satisfaction-based evaluation method for tourism village development, covering rural settlement construction, village esthetics, and economic and social development. “Villager satisfaction” is a crucial indicator obtained by objectifying the subjective opinions of villagers. Finally, the evaluation method was applied in the form of a questionnaire in two villages. The experimental results are correlated with the tourism development patterns of the two villages, verifying the feasibility and effectiveness of the evaluation method. It is expected that this evaluation method will become an effective communication medium between non-professional villagers and the professional tourism development process, thereby promoting the sustainable development of rural areas in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Rural Development through Tourism, Events, and Recreation)

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17 pages, 665 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Survival Mechanisms of Short-Term Rentals in Virginia: A Comparative Analysis of Rural versus Non-Rural Markets

by Seungbee Choi and Jongho Won

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12651; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612651 - 21 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1431

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the survival mechanisms of STRs in Virginia, particularly focusing on rural versus non-rural markets. Utilizing data from AirDNA, we observe 16,852 active listings from 2018 to 2022. The study identifies the influence of various factors on STR longevity, including unit type, location, and the number of bedrooms. It is a unique attempt to bridge the gap in understanding the dynamics of short-term rentals (STRs) in rural and urban contexts. Our findings reveal differences in the survival patterns of STRs in rural versus non-rural markets. In particular, rural STRs exhibit higher survival probabilities compared to their non-rural counterparts. Furthermore, Full-Time STRs, which are primarily dedicated to short-term rentals, show significantly higher survival probabilities than Occasional STRs, regardless of their location. These findings serve as critical inputs for stakeholders involved in policymaking, regulation, and industry strategies. By highlighting the distinctive dynamics of rural and urban STR markets, we underscore the need for context-specific regulations that can balance the economic benefits of STRs with the preservation of local housing options. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Rural Development through Tourism, Events, and Recreation)

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24 pages, 3481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geographic Information Visualization and Sustainable Development of Low-Carbon Rural Slow Tourism under Artificial Intelligence

by Gongyi Jiang, Weijun Gao, Meng Xu, Mingjia Tong and Zhonghui Liu

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3846; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043846 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2789

Abstract

This study conducts in-depth research on geographic information visualization and the sustainable development of low-carbon rural slow tourism under artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze and discuss the visualization of geographic information and the sustainable development of low-carbon slow tourism in rural areas. First, the development options related to low-carbon tourism in rural areas are discussed. Then, a low-carbon rural slow tourism recommendation method based on AI and a low-carbon rural tourism scene recognition method based on Cross-Media Retrieval (CMR) data are proposed. Finally, the proposed scheme is tested. The test results show that the carbon dioxide emissions of one-day tourism projects account for less than 10% of the total tourism industry. From the proportion, it is found that air transport accounts for the largest proportion, more than 40%. With the development of time, the number of rural slow tourists in Guizhou has increased the most, while the number of rural slow tourists in Yunnan has increased to a lesser extent. In the K-means clustering model, the accuracy of scenario classification based on the semantic features of scene attributes is 5.26% higher than that of attribute likelihood vectors. On the Support Vector Machine classifier, the scene classification accuracy based on the semantic features of scene attributes is 19.2% higher than that of the scene classification based on attribute likelihood vector features. CMR techniques have also played a satisfying role in identifying rural tourism scenarios. They enable passengers to quickly identify tourist attractions to save preparation time and provide more flexible time for the tour process. The research results have made certain contributions to the sustainable development of low-carbon rural slow tourism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Rural Development through Tourism, Events, and Recreation)

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