**Tourism Planning in Rural Areas and Organization Possibilities**

Tuğba Kiper and Gülen Özdemir

*Namk Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Landscape Architecture, Department of Agricultural Economics Turkey* 

#### **1. Introduction**

122 Landscape Planning

Kong, F., Yin, H., Nakagoshi, N. and Zong, Y., 2010. Urban green space network

Low, S., Taplin, D. and Scheld, S., 2005. Rethinking Urban Parks : Public Space and Cultural

M. Neuvonen, T. Sievanen, T. Susan and K. Terhi, 2007. "Accessto Green Areas and the

M. Sorensen, J. Smit, V. Barzettiand J. Williams, , 1997. "Good Practices for Urban Greening,

Manlun, Y. 2003. Suitability Analysis of Urban Green Space System Based on GIS.

Manlun, Y., 2003. Suitability Analysis of Urban Green Space System Based on GIS,

Melles, S., Glenn, S. and Martin, K., 2003, 'Urban bird diversity and landscape complexity:

P. Bolund and H. Sven, 1999. "Ecological Services in Urban Areas, " Elsevier Sciences: Ecological Economics, Vol. 29, pp. 293-301. doi:10. 1016/S0921-8009(99)00013-0 P. Grahn and U. A, 2003. Stigsdotter, "Landscape Planning and Stress, " Urban Forest:

Swanwick, C., Dunnett, N. and Woolley, H., 2003, 'Nature, role and value of green space in

Turner, T., 1998. Landscape Planning and Environmental Impact Design. Routledge,

V. Heidt and M. Neef , 2008. "Benefits of Urban Space for Improving Urban Climate, " Ecology, Planning and Management of Urban Forests: International Perspective Ward, S., 2004. Planning and Urban Change (Second Edition). SAGE Publications Inc. (US),

Wilby, R. L. and Perry, G. L. W., 2006, 'Climate change, biodiversity and the urban

Wuqiang, L., Song, S. and Wei, L., 2012. Urban spatial patterns based on the urban green space system: A strategic plan for Wuhan City, P. R. China Shi Song.

environment: a critical review based on London, UK', Progress in Physical

towns and cities: An overview', Built Environment 29, pp. 94-106.

and gravity modeling. Landscape and urban planning, 95(1-2): 16-27. L. Loures, R. Santos and P. Thomas, 2007. "Urban Parks and Sustainable Development: The case

Sustainable Development, Agios Nikolaos, Greece

Urban Greening, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 235-247.

Masterthesis. Enschede, The Netherlands.

University of Twente, Netherlands, 90 pp.

Urban for Urban Green, Vol. 2 pp. 001-018.

Ecology 7, pp. [online].

Florence, KY, USA.

Geography30, pp. 73.

London, GBR.

" Inter American Development Bank.

Diversity. University of Texas Press, Austin, TX, USA.

development for biodiversity conservation: Identification based on graph theory

study of Partimaocity, Portugal, " Conference on Energy, Environment, Ecosystem and

Frequency of Visits: A Case Study in Helsinki, " Elsevier: Urban Forestry and

International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation.

species environment associations along a multiscale habitat gradient', Conservation

Along with changing life conditions, various orientations have emerged in tourism. Instead of conventional tourism centers, quiet, natural and authentic places are being preferred. However, the economic output provided by this initiative has not been able to reach to the expected level and sustainability due to lack of a planned and rational basis from the beginning. Uncontrolled pressure generated from this might have irreversible impacts on natural and cultural landscapes. Therefore, a rational, practical and preservation-based planning should be implemented in order to ensure a sustainable development in regions where no intense tourism activities exist yet but that have significant potential. At this point, first potential a region has regarding the natural and cultural landscape values should be determined; and then applicable tourism types and their implementation areas should be established. Additionally socio-economic development and change to be generated by probable tourism activities should be analyzed carefully. Moreover opinions of local people regarding this subject must be considered throughout the decision-making process. Here cooperatives and organizations in rural areas step in. Planning decisions, which are made without considering the balance between usage and conservation and provide a temporary solution, would damage authentic sources of a rural area in an irreversible way. Rural areas are settlements which represent reserved areas remained by natural areas and contain a unique rural life culture. Therefore, among tourism types they are not only regions suitable for development of rural tourism, but they are also considered to be spaces of many tourism types which share this environment.

In this study, it is aimed to reveal rural tourism concept and types, analyzing rural tourism possibilities implemented in the world and in Turkey; and to create rural tourism planning and organization models. Within this scope, we focused on rural tourism's definition, its objectives, the reasons of its emergence and development, its principles, its types, its environmental, social and economic impacts; and on the examination of approaches to tourism at rural areas in Turkey and Europe.

In this section, the subjects below will be discussed.


Tourism Planning in Rural Areas and Organization Possibilities 125

**Australia** Population clusters of fewer than 1 000 people, excluding certain areas **Canada** Places of fewer than 1 000 people, with a population density of fewer

No definition -- but the Rural Development Commission excludes

Towns containing an agglomeration of fewer than 2 000 people living in contiguous houses, or with not more than 200 metres between the

**Country The criterias to define the rural area Austria** Towns of fewer than 5 000 people.

**England and Wales** 

**France** 

[OECD], 1994).

built environment.

mountain and desert

Abundance and relative cheapness of land

possibility of elite capture or urban bias

2001):

than 400 per square kilometre.

**Denmark** Communities with fewer than 200 households

determined 100 settlements. **Italy** Settlements with fewer than 10.000 people.

**Norway** Communities with fewer than 200 households **Portugal** Settlements with fewer than 10.000 people.

**Spain** Settlements with fewer than 10.000 people. **Switzerland** Settlements with fewer than 10.000 people.

Gülçubuk, 2005, UN Demographic Year-books and Robinson, 1990)

20.000 people.

houses.

towns with more than 10 000 inhabitants.

**Ireland** The separation between total urban areas and rural area are

**Scotland** The local authority areas less than 100 people pers q km.

**Turkey** Provincial and district centers outside settlements with fewer than

According Agricultural and Rural Development Operational Program [Ardop], (2006) It covers areas of population density of or under 120 persons/km2 or settlements with a population under 10,000 inhabitants. From this array of varying definitions, two clear points stand out. Rural settlements may vary in size, but they are small, and always with a population of fewer than 10 000 inhabitants. They are almost always in areas of relatively low population density (Organsaton For Economc Co-Operaton and Development

Typically rural areas have low population densities: this is a result of small settlements, widely spaced apart. The natural and/or the farmed/forested environment dominates the

This point is various definiations common features of rural space are (Ashley and Maxwell

 Spaces where human settlement and infrastructure occupy only small patches of the landscape, most of which is dominated by fields and pastures, woods and forest, water,

Geographical conditions that increase political transaction costs and magnify the

Places where most people spend most of their working time on farms

High transaction costs, associated with long distance and poor infrastructure

Table 1. The criterias to define rural area in different countries (Roberts & Hall 2003;


#### **2. Definition of rural area**

The definition of rural has been in dispute for decades (Gilbert, 1982), many different definitions of the rural have been given, each focusing on a different specialized aspect: in turn, statistical, administrative, built-up area, functional regions, agricultural, and population density.

Many commentators define rural areas as those with less than 10-20 per cent of their land areas covered by the built environment. There are three important implications here. These areas will be dominated by agrarian and forest-based economic activities. They will be, to a large extent, repositories of the natural world and wild-life. For the visitor, they will give an impression of space, and a traditional non-urban, non-industrial economy. Their economies will be strongly influenced by the market for farm and forest products. Although the labour force required for farming and forestry has declined rapidly in recent years, rural areas still show a strong bias towards jobs in the farm/forest sector. Additionally, they usually exhibit low female activity rates outside the home because of the shortage of job opportunities for women in many rural areas (Organsaton For Economc Co-Operaton and Development [OECD], 1994).

The OECD Rural Development Programme uses a pragmatically based series of indicators: while at local level a population density of 150 persons per square kilometre is the preferred criterion, "at the regional level geographic units are grouped by the share of their population which is rural, into the following three types:


The frequently quoted definition of rurality based on population density criteria as used by the OECD is a typical example of this type of definition. Besides, an EU classification of rural areas (integrated rural areas, intermediate rural areas and remote rural areas) based upon socio-economic trends, such as population growth, land use change and employment conditions (European Commission, 1988), belongs to the descriptive definitions (Elands & Freerk Wiersumi 2001)

This point is also illustrated when examining the size of settlements classified as rural by a selection of various states, given below: (Table 1)

According to the European Commission 1997., approximately 80% of the territory of the European Union can be called 'rural'. These rural areas or countrysides. include a great variety of cultures, landscapes, nature and economic activities that shape a palette of rural identities (Huigen et al., 1992; Slee, 2000).

The definition of rural has been in dispute for decades (Gilbert, 1982), many different definitions of the rural have been given, each focusing on a different specialized aspect: in turn, statistical, administrative, built-up area, functional regions, agricultural, and

Many commentators define rural areas as those with less than 10-20 per cent of their land areas covered by the built environment. There are three important implications here. These areas will be dominated by agrarian and forest-based economic activities. They will be, to a large extent, repositories of the natural world and wild-life. For the visitor, they will give an impression of space, and a traditional non-urban, non-industrial economy. Their economies will be strongly influenced by the market for farm and forest products. Although the labour force required for farming and forestry has declined rapidly in recent years, rural areas still show a strong bias towards jobs in the farm/forest sector. Additionally, they usually exhibit low female activity rates outside the home because of the shortage of job opportunities for women in many rural

The OECD Rural Development Programme uses a pragmatically based series of indicators: while at local level a population density of 150 persons per square kilometre is the preferred criterion, "at the regional level geographic units are grouped by the share of their population

predominantly urbanized regions (< 15 per cent)" (Organsaton For Economc Co-

The frequently quoted definition of rurality based on population density criteria as used by the OECD is a typical example of this type of definition. Besides, an EU classification of rural areas (integrated rural areas, intermediate rural areas and remote rural areas) based upon socio-economic trends, such as population growth, land use change and employment conditions (European Commission, 1988), belongs to the descriptive definitions (Elands &

This point is also illustrated when examining the size of settlements classified as rural by a

According to the European Commission 1997., approximately 80% of the territory of the European Union can be called 'rural'. These rural areas or countrysides. include a great variety of cultures, landscapes, nature and economic activities that shape a palette of rural

areas (Organsaton For Economc Co-Operaton and Development [OECD], 1994).

Relationship between Rural Tourism and Natural - Cultural Environment

Rural Tourism-Rural Development relationship

Rural Tourism – Examples of Implementation

which is rural, into the following three types:

Operaton and Development [OECD], 1994).

selection of various states, given below: (Table 1)

identities (Huigen et al., 1992; Slee, 2000).

 predominantly rural (> 50 per cent), significantly rural (15-50 per cent),

Freerk Wiersumi 2001)

Rural Tourism Policy in Turkey

Rural Tourism Organizations

**2. Definition of rural area** 

Conclusion

population density.


Table 1. The criterias to define rural area in different countries (Roberts & Hall 2003; Gülçubuk, 2005, UN Demographic Year-books and Robinson, 1990)

According Agricultural and Rural Development Operational Program [Ardop], (2006) It covers areas of population density of or under 120 persons/km2 or settlements with a population under 10,000 inhabitants. From this array of varying definitions, two clear points stand out. Rural settlements may vary in size, but they are small, and always with a population of fewer than 10 000 inhabitants. They are almost always in areas of relatively low population density (Organsaton For Economc Co-Operaton and Development [OECD], 1994).

Typically rural areas have low population densities: this is a result of small settlements, widely spaced apart. The natural and/or the farmed/forested environment dominates the built environment.

This point is various definiations common features of rural space are (Ashley and Maxwell 2001):


Tourism Planning in Rural Areas and Organization Possibilities 127

Macdonald and Jolliff (2003) introduced the concept into this patticular study and defined it as cultural rural tourism. By this definition rural tourism refers to a distinct rural community with its own traditions, heritage, arts, lifestyles, places, and values as preserved between generations. When tourists visit these areas, they are well informed about the culture and experienced folklore, costoms, natural landscapes, and historical landmarks. They may also enjoy other activities in a rural setting such as nature, adventure, sports,

The connection between rural tourism, agricultural tourism and farm tourism is synthesized in figure 1. In relation to the scope of rural tourism, McGehee & Kim (2004) provide

Fig. 1. The classification of different tourism activities in rural areas (McGehee & Kim, 2004)

Rural tourism, or rurally-located tourism, can include the above but also campsites, lodges, safari drives, craft markets, cultural displays, adventure sports, walking trails, heritage sites, musical events indeed any tourist activity taking place in a rural area (Table 2). Rural tourism is a kind of rural activities and its characteristic is natural and humanistic (It includes customs, scenery, landscape (about local country and agricultural) and other attractions, Its types of activities basically are leisure, sightseeing, experience and learning, and so on (Jingming & Lihua 2002; Deqian, 2006; Holland, Burian & Dixey, 2003). According to Nilsson, rural tourism is based on the rural environment in general whereas farm tourism is based on the farm and farmer. This means that within the framework of rural tourism, farm tourism enterprises are more closely related to agriculture than other rural tourism

festivals, crafts, and general sightseeing.

operations.

examples of tourism types as illustrated in Figure 1 below:

Rural areas generally suffer high levels of poverty, and are also characterised by lower levels of non-farm economic activity, infrastructural development, and access to essential services. They may also suffer from depopulation of the able-bodied, and lack of political clout.

#### **3. Definition of rural tourism and its types**

The concept of rural tourism is multidimensional and there are several different definitions about rural tourism. The followings are some examples: according to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development [OECD], rural tourism is defined as tourism taking place in the countryside.

It has been argued above that rurality as a concept is connected with low population densities and open space, and with small scale settlements, generally of fewer than 10 000 inhabitants. Land use is dominated by farming, forestry and natural areas. Societies tend towards traditionalism: the influence of the past is often strong.

Government policies lean towards conservation rather than radical or rapid change.

It follows, therefore, that rural tourism should be:


According to Lane (1994a) rural tourism should: be located in rural areas, functionally rural, rural in scale i.e. usually small-scale; be traditional in character; grow slowly and organically; be connected with local families; and represent the complex pattern of rural environment, economy, history and location.

Descried rural tourism as multi-faceted activity rather than farm-based tourism only. It not only includes farm-based holidays but also comprises special interest nature holidays and ecotourism, walking, climbing and riding holidays , adventure, sport and health tourism, hunting and angling, educational travel, arts and heritage tourism and in some areas, ethnic tourism (Baramwell& Lane, 1994).

Rural tourism refers to those traveling activities that aim at pursuing natural and humanistic attraction with rurality in rural area (Jingming& Lihua, 2002).

Rural areas generally suffer high levels of poverty, and are also characterised by lower levels of non-farm economic activity, infrastructural development, and access to essential services. They may also suffer from depopulation of the able-bodied, and lack of political

The concept of rural tourism is multidimensional and there are several different definitions about rural tourism. The followings are some examples: according to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development [OECD], rural tourism is defined as tourism

It has been argued above that rurality as a concept is connected with low population densities and open space, and with small scale settlements, generally of fewer than 10 000 inhabitants. Land use is dominated by farming, forestry and natural areas. Societies tend

 Functionally rural, built upon the rural world's special features: small scale enterprise, open space, contact with nature and the natural world, heritage "traditional" societies

Rural in scale -- both in terms of buildings and settlements -- and, therefore, usually

 Traditional in character, growing slowly and organically, and connected with local families. It will often be very largely controlled locally and developed for the long term

 Sustainable -- in the sense that its development should help sustain the special rural character of an area, and in the sense that its development should be sustainable in its use of resources. Rural tourism should be seen as a potential tool for conservation and

Of many different kinds, representing the complex pattern of rural environment,

According to Lane (1994a) rural tourism should: be located in rural areas, functionally rural, rural in scale i.e. usually small-scale; be traditional in character; grow slowly and organically; be connected with local families; and represent the complex pattern of rural

Descried rural tourism as multi-faceted activity rather than farm-based tourism only. It not only includes farm-based holidays but also comprises special interest nature holidays and ecotourism, walking, climbing and riding holidays , adventure, sport and health tourism, hunting and angling, educational travel, arts and heritage tourism and in some areas, ethnic

Rural tourism refers to those traveling activities that aim at pursuing natural and humanistic

sustainability, rather than as an urbanizing and development tool;

Government policies lean towards conservation rather than radical or rapid change.

clout.

**3. Definition of rural tourism and its types** 

towards traditionalism: the influence of the past is often strong.

It follows, therefore, that rural tourism should be:

taking place in the countryside.

Located in rural areas;

small scale

good of the area;

economy, and history.

tourism (Baramwell& Lane, 1994).

environment, economy, history and location.

attraction with rurality in rural area (Jingming& Lihua, 2002).

and "traditional"practices;

Macdonald and Jolliff (2003) introduced the concept into this patticular study and defined it as cultural rural tourism. By this definition rural tourism refers to a distinct rural community with its own traditions, heritage, arts, lifestyles, places, and values as preserved between generations. When tourists visit these areas, they are well informed about the culture and experienced folklore, costoms, natural landscapes, and historical landmarks. They may also enjoy other activities in a rural setting such as nature, adventure, sports, festivals, crafts, and general sightseeing.

The connection between rural tourism, agricultural tourism and farm tourism is synthesized in figure 1. In relation to the scope of rural tourism, McGehee & Kim (2004) provide examples of tourism types as illustrated in Figure 1 below:

Fig. 1. The classification of different tourism activities in rural areas (McGehee & Kim, 2004)

Rural tourism, or rurally-located tourism, can include the above but also campsites, lodges, safari drives, craft markets, cultural displays, adventure sports, walking trails, heritage sites, musical events indeed any tourist activity taking place in a rural area (Table 2). Rural tourism is a kind of rural activities and its characteristic is natural and humanistic (It includes customs, scenery, landscape (about local country and agricultural) and other attractions, Its types of activities basically are leisure, sightseeing, experience and learning, and so on (Jingming & Lihua 2002; Deqian, 2006; Holland, Burian & Dixey, 2003). According to Nilsson, rural tourism is based on the rural environment in general whereas farm tourism is based on the farm and farmer. This means that within the framework of rural tourism, farm tourism enterprises are more closely related to agriculture than other rural tourism operations.

Tourism Planning in Rural Areas and Organization Possibilities 129

tourism (Reid et al., 2000), and "includes a range of activities, services and amenities provided by farmers and rural people to attract tourists to their area in order to generate extra income for

Farm tourism is when accommodation for rural tourists is provided on farms. The core activity is in the wider rural area (walking, boating) but the vast majority of visitors are accommodated on farms, either working farms or farms converted to accommodation facilities. Farm tourism activities can include farm markets, wineries, U-Picks, farming interpretive centers, farm-based accommodation and events, and agriculture-based festivals. Heritage and cultural tourism in rural areas comes in a wide range of forms most of which are unique to an individual local and a valuable component of the rural tourism product. Heritage and cultural tourism includes temples, rural buildings but may be extended to local features of interest including war remnants, monuments to famous literary, artistic or

Eco tourism; many tourists visit rural areas for the purpose of bird and animal watching and learning about local flora and fauna. Rural tourist destination as a product is definitely very fragile in ecological, social and cultural sense. Its development requires very specific approach that could help it remain sustainable in the long term. In many rural regions, tourism is accepted as a natural part of the socio-economic fabric juxtaposed with agriculture. Rural tourism is among the most polymorphous of all forms of Special Interest Tourism (SIT). The diversity of attractions included within rural tourism embrace: Indigenous and European heritage sites, Aspects of culture (agriculture), Industrial tourism (farm practices), Education

scientific people, historic remains, archeological sites, traditional parkland etc.

tourism, Special events, Ecological attractions, Adventure tourism and Wine tourism.

tourism development but also in economic, ecological and social analysis

a means of supplementing diminished incomes (Douglas & Derret 2001).

natural and historic assets of the area

unwelcome value systems on them

and cultural and conservation interests

Such diversity represents major opportunities for rural areas that have turned to tourism as

Lane, (1994) identifies four necessary features for the sustainable rural tourism strategies as: It is important that the person or team formulating the strategy is skilled not only in

 Wide consultations amongst all interest groups are essential. These consultations will include trade and business, transport, farmers, administrators, and the custodians of the

 Tourism relies more than any other industry on local goodwill. The local population must be happy with their visitors and the secure in the knowledge that the visitor influx will not overwhelm their live, increase their income hosts and impose new and

 The strategy-making process should not be a once-only affair. It has to be an evolving long-term enterprise, able to cope with change, and able to admit to its own mistakes and shortcomings. It is the beginning of a partnership between business, government

In recent years, rural tourism has been developing rapidly. In order to promote the development of rural tourism, the local government paid more and more attention to the planning of rural tourism. Rural Tourism (RT) has long been recognized in certain parts of Europe as an effective catalyst of rural socio-economic regeneration for over a hundred years.

their businesses" (Gannon, 1994).


Table 2. Activities and facilities in different zones (Hong, 1998)

Agri-tourism is when the purpose of the visit has a specific agricultural focus such as being with animals, enjoying a vineyard. Tourism on the farms enables farmers to diversify their activities while enhancing the value of their products and property. Farm tourism also helps to reconcile farming interests and environmental protection through integrated land management in which farmers continue to play a key role. Tourists who choose farm accommodation rather than other kinds of accommodation facilities look for genuine rural atmosphere where they can share intimacy of the household they live in, learn traditional crafts and skills with their hosts, make friends which is a quality, modern times have almost forgotten and above all enjoy home made food and drinks. Some specific food labels can help consumers establish a local produce and can be used as a selling point to tourist who want to taste home grown quality food and drink. Agritourism "is a hybrid concept that merges elements of two complex industries—agriculture and travel/tourism—to open up new, profitable markets for farm products and services and provide travel experience for a large regional market (Wicks & Merrett, 2003). Agritourism helps preserve rural lifestyles and landscape and also offers the opportunity to provide "sustainable" or "green" tourism (Privitera, 2010). Agritourism can be defined as a subset of rural

**Zone Activity Facilities** 

signboards, paths, restrooms

Explanations and maps on signboards, paths, restrooms

Service center for seling agricultural products and

Noticeboards, parking area, service center, landscape

Noticeboards, parking area, landscape beautification,

accommodation facilities

Noticeboards, landscape beautification, parking areas

Explanations and maps on signboards, exhibition center, museum, festivals,

Paths, noticeboards to signal route and warm of any

Explanations and maps on signboards, setting out of

beautification

tradional crafts

beautification

improvement of

parking areas

dangers

tourist route

vegetables, sightseeing Picking wild vegetables Explanations and maps on

Triditional agricultural

Trout fishing Ecology of trout fishing Parking area, landscape

products, traditional culure

Tasting and knowing how to cook with local special

activities, tours

Selling agricultural

of mountain people

often with butterflies

Exhibilition of culture, dancing, traditional festivals

telling of folk storles

Agri-tourism is when the purpose of the visit has a specific agricultural focus such as being with animals, enjoying a vineyard. Tourism on the farms enables farmers to diversify their activities while enhancing the value of their products and property. Farm tourism also helps to reconcile farming interests and environmental protection through integrated land management in which farmers continue to play a key role. Tourists who choose farm accommodation rather than other kinds of accommodation facilities look for genuine rural atmosphere where they can share intimacy of the household they live in, learn traditional crafts and skills with their hosts, make friends which is a quality, modern times have almost forgotten and above all enjoy home made food and drinks. Some specific food labels can help consumers establish a local produce and can be used as a selling point to tourist who want to taste home grown quality food and drink. Agritourism "is a hybrid concept that merges elements of two complex industries—agriculture and travel/tourism—to open up new, profitable markets for farm products and services and provide travel experience for a large regional market (Wicks & Merrett, 2003). Agritourism helps preserve rural lifestyles and landscape and also offers the opportunity to provide "sustainable" or "green" tourism (Privitera, 2010). Agritourism can be defined as a subset of rural

ingredients

Farmstays Staying with local people

Waterfall areas Sight-seeing at water- falls,

Natural landscape area Climbing, hiking

Heritage area Heritage interpretation,

Table 2. Activities and facilities in different zones (Hong, 1998)

Areas for picking wild

Exhibition of agricultural

Meals made from local

Cultural area of mountain

Areas to experience agricultural life and culture of mountain

people

products

specialtles

people ( Buson tribe) tourism (Reid et al., 2000), and "includes a range of activities, services and amenities provided by farmers and rural people to attract tourists to their area in order to generate extra income for their businesses" (Gannon, 1994).

Farm tourism is when accommodation for rural tourists is provided on farms. The core activity is in the wider rural area (walking, boating) but the vast majority of visitors are accommodated on farms, either working farms or farms converted to accommodation facilities. Farm tourism activities can include farm markets, wineries, U-Picks, farming interpretive centers, farm-based accommodation and events, and agriculture-based festivals.

Heritage and cultural tourism in rural areas comes in a wide range of forms most of which are unique to an individual local and a valuable component of the rural tourism product. Heritage and cultural tourism includes temples, rural buildings but may be extended to local features of interest including war remnants, monuments to famous literary, artistic or scientific people, historic remains, archeological sites, traditional parkland etc.

Eco tourism; many tourists visit rural areas for the purpose of bird and animal watching and learning about local flora and fauna. Rural tourist destination as a product is definitely very fragile in ecological, social and cultural sense. Its development requires very specific approach that could help it remain sustainable in the long term. In many rural regions, tourism is accepted as a natural part of the socio-economic fabric juxtaposed with agriculture.

Rural tourism is among the most polymorphous of all forms of Special Interest Tourism (SIT). The diversity of attractions included within rural tourism embrace: Indigenous and European heritage sites, Aspects of culture (agriculture), Industrial tourism (farm practices), Education tourism, Special events, Ecological attractions, Adventure tourism and Wine tourism.

Such diversity represents major opportunities for rural areas that have turned to tourism as a means of supplementing diminished incomes (Douglas & Derret 2001).

Lane, (1994) identifies four necessary features for the sustainable rural tourism strategies as:


In recent years, rural tourism has been developing rapidly. In order to promote the development of rural tourism, the local government paid more and more attention to the planning of rural tourism. Rural Tourism (RT) has long been recognized in certain parts of Europe as an effective catalyst of rural socio-economic regeneration for over a hundred years.

Tourism Planning in Rural Areas and Organization Possibilities 131

Tourism and environment are representing common relationship concepts. Successful tourism activity needs clean and orderly environment (Kiper 2006). Rural tourism is both

Rural tourism, natural resources, cultural heritage, rural lifestyle and an integrated tourism is a type of local economic activities. Therefore, rural tourism in rural areas was carried out with a number of elements in their natural landscape and cultural landscape (water, vista, topography, vegetation, clean air), as well as in the variety of recreational activities suitable for all kinds of environments. Therefore, rural tourism and its natural assets and raw materials to create, as

Natural and cultural landscape values form a basis for rural tourism. These values are geographical position, micro-climatic conditions, existence of water, natural beauties, existence of natural vegetation, existence of wildlife, surface features, geomorphologic structure, local food, festivals and pageants, traditional agricultural structure, local handicrafts, regional dress culture, historical events and people, heritage appeals, architectural variety, traditional music and folk dance, artistic activities and so on (Gerry, 2001; Lane, 1993; Lanquar, 1995; Soykan, 1999; Brassoulis, 2002; Catibog-Sinha & Wen, 2008;

**4. Relationship between rural tourism and natural-cultural environment** 

entagled with rural settlements and is based on natural resources (Soykan 2003).

well as directing people to travel is an attractive force (Kiper, Özyavuz & Korkut 2011).

Mlynarczyk, 2002; Drzewiecki, 2001, Kiper, T. 2006; Kiper, Korkut & Ylmaz, 2011). Relationship between rural tourism and natural - cultural environment in Figure 3.

Adventure- emphasis on activity

Wildlife- primarily viewing of wildlife

Nature based- primarily viewing of natural landscape

Ecotourism- includes educative and conservation supprting elements Rural tourism- primarily viewing of natural and cultural landscape

Fig. 3. An overview of tourism (Dowling, Moore, Newsome 2002)

Rural tourism can therefore encompass a wide range of rural- based attractions, events and services that can provide the context for economic diversification and a mediating factor for sustainability. Rural tourism can promote heritage appreciation and resource conservation, contribute to social-economic change, and provide the context for interactionbetween local rural peopleand the tourists. On the other hand, rural tourism development can promote undesirable changes in the landscape, negatively influence the social-cultural values of a region, and promote inauthentic representations of local customs and ways of life. In the case of farm tourism, the sustainability of the tourism product can also be influenced by the degree to which operators have developed managerial skills, such as product and market development and customer service skills (Colton & Glyn, 2005)

Rural tourism planning process begins with choosing qualified villages to attract tourists. In fact the first step of rural tourism planning management is to select potential villages for rural tourism. Finally the managerial operations must be implemented in order to maximize the benefits of mral tourism processes (Mahmoudi, Haghsetan, Meleki, 2011).

Rural tourism planning can be organized as shown (Figure 2);

Fig. 2. Planning procedure for rural tourism (Hong, 1998).

Rural tourism can therefore encompass a wide range of rural- based attractions, events and services that can provide the context for economic diversification and a mediating factor for sustainability. Rural tourism can promote heritage appreciation and resource conservation, contribute to social-economic change, and provide the context for interactionbetween local rural peopleand the tourists. On the other hand, rural tourism development can promote undesirable changes in the landscape, negatively influence the social-cultural values of a region, and promote inauthentic representations of local customs and ways of life. In the case of farm tourism, the sustainability of the tourism product can also be influenced by the degree to which operators have developed managerial skills, such as product and market

Rural tourism planning process begins with choosing qualified villages to attract tourists. In fact the first step of rural tourism planning management is to select potential villages for rural tourism. Finally the managerial operations must be implemented in order to maximize

 **Resource analysis Related laws and regulations** 

the benefits of mral tourism processes (Mahmoudi, Haghsetan, Meleki, 2011).

 Origin of proposal Principal goals of plan

 Agricultural management Agricultural characteristics Farmers willingness to participate Estimated no of visitors

 Issues of development Important categories

 Planning facilities Planning management

Primary regions for development

**Detailed development planning** 

 Planning for environmental management Planning of transportation system Planning for introduction of visitors

**Cost-benefit analysis Executive planning by stage , by zone Surce of funds** 

**Conclusion** 

development and customer service skills (Colton & Glyn, 2005)

Rural tourism planning can be organized as shown (Figure 2);

**Analysis of development of potential** 

**Development of rural tourism** 

Fig. 2. Planning procedure for rural tourism (Hong, 1998).

Definition of projects

**Aims of Planning** 

 

 Natural environment Cultural environment Industrial environment Recreational environment

**Managing organization, Regulations** 
