Rural Educational Tourism's Potential

Abstract

Growth trends in life-long learning, and rural tourism indicate potential for the rural educational tourism sector; however; there is very little empirical research on how this niche tourism, which may include activities such as, agricultural school excursions/exchange programmes, “farm-to-table” culinary courses, artisan craft programs, etc., might build local capacity, support sustainable rural economies, and mobilize place-based ways of learning that are required for global sustainability. This research project, which is at the conceptual/exploratory stage, aims to explore the economic, social and environmental impacts of rural educational tourism. There is no existing research that brings together rural development and place-based educational tourism in a Canadian context. Sub-questions with particular relevance to rural development policy and planning include: How was rural educational tourism integrated within a greater economic and learning development strategy? What new roles and competencies did stakeholders require and how were they developed? What changes from traditional forms of policy development were required? How were issues of sustainability, environmental impact, and conservation addressed? How did the quality and quantity of interconnections change? Since educational tourism has received very little research attention, comparative case studies with mixed methods are a suitable approach. I hope to include educational tourism activities in rural Aboriginal communities, pending consultation, and with an understanding of Aboriginal research as being research by and with Aboriginal Peoples. My approach emphasizes and values the existing strengths, assets and knowledge systems of rural communities.