UNWTO has launched a new report to determine the status of rural tourism in its Member States and identify the main challenges and opportunities for tourism as a driver for rural development.
The report, ‘Tourism and Rural Development: A Policy Perspective – Results of the UNWTO Survey on Tourism for Rural Developments to Member States’, represents the first baseline document of UNTWO on tourism and rural development with participation from Member States globally.
The key findings of the report are that 59% of Member States stated that rural tourism is a priority, and 96% foresee a better future for rural tourism in the upcoming years. The creation of jobs, improvements to livelihoods and fighting depopulation were the most frequently-cited opportunities offered by tourism for rural areas. Member States also identified the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage and environmental protection as among the biggest potential benefits of rural tourism.
UNWTO identified the three main challenges that are associated with realising the full potential of tourism for rural development. Firstly, the deficiencies in roads, ports, airports and other infrastructure which allow access to rural areas remain a challenge, as well as the rural depopulation which has adverse effects for seasonality and product competitiveness, increasing the instability of rural businesses. Also, the lack of education and training in these areas, along with skills development and the capacity to attract and retain workforce talent.
Other challenges include limitations in accessing financial systems, restrictions in the development of innovative tourism products in rural regions, managing the impacts of degradation of natural resources, and limitations in handling data, digitalisation and knowledge management.
In terms of how tourism can help in supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNWTO Member States emphasised the potential of rural tourism in advancing Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), No Poverty, (SDG 1), Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) and Gender Equality (SDG 5).
The report forms part of UNWTO’s Tourism for Rural Development Programme, which was established to develop initiatives and programmes to grow the sector in size and relevance.
