This year’s theme for World Tourism Day 2020 is “Tourism and Rural Development“. Tourism has been a driving factor for development for economies of various countries, specially for the under-developed and developing countries. And, to such rural economies are very much effected by tourism, its the long chain effect.
In fact, tourism is a very multi-facet sector. It has it’s wing across various subjects. And such is rural development. We happen to know tourism as a topic of leisure and adventure topic. But tourism is seen as indicator of economic development. Most of the destinations, are in the rural setting. Forget themed parks and shopping malls, major ones are the rustic ones.
For any country largest population comes from the rural area. The enormous migration to cities for the jobs makes the rural area left alone. But, tourism is only the industry that has a backward approach. The employment generated by tourism in rural areas are the major source of international dollars. Even the most rural areas in Cambodia easily accepts USD for their transactions and Everest region which is majorly a village accepts USD.
Most of all going rural for tourism is majorly about the Experience. Asian nations have been very successful in marketing the village living experience as a tourism product. Home stays in Nepal and village journey in through rice fields of Indonesia are few to mention which gathers international accolades.
But, tourism is an industry that is driven through large corporate, and corporate are focused on urbanization. The challenge here would be against the profit that goes out from the corporate jukebox to the rural areas. Many policy intervention would be required if the tourism industry in take on to the rural setting.
Tourism, thus will be the game changer of many economies. And shift towards rural development through tourism will be visible only if you and make effort to travel to the rustic areas. So next time you travel, take some remote destination and be the spoiled with luxury of the rustic.