Rural Community Tourism Research Articles

Cross-Cultural Consumer Lifestyles and Sustainable Tourism in Rural Communities in Palembang Indonesia

Objective: To investigate how cross-cultural consumer lifestles influence rural tourism with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of sharing economy knowledge partnerships (SEKPs) aimed at achieving UN’s Sustainable cities and communities goal (SDG 11) by transforming remote rural communities into sustainable tourism destinations in Indonesia. Theoretical Framework: Draws on the concepts of consumer lifestyles, rural tourism, sharing economy, postcolonialism, cross-culturalism, sustainable cities and communities, to development a conceptual framework for the study. Method: We adopt mixed research designs, involving questionnaire survey, observations, and semi-structured interviews between February-March 2022 in Indonesia. We asked participants about their willingness to collaborate to develop tourism in rural communities. The data collected was subjected to SPSS multiple regression and NVivo thematic content analysis. Results and Discussion: We identified three factors influencing consumer lifestyles relating to UN’s SDG11: ‘collectivism’, ‘strategic orientation’, and ‘power-relationship’. We discussed these relational factors under seven thematic findings: ‘performance orientation’, ‘thinking strategically’, ‘anxiety tolerance’, ‘integrative relationship’, ‘gender balance’, ‘relational tendency’, and ‘market dynamism’. Research Implications: The findings have implications for theory and practice in the field of sustainable tourism destination development, considering the urgency for achieving SDG11. Future research would include a wider range of stakeholders in Indonesia and other Southeast Asia countries to enhance the generalisability of the findings. Originality/Value: The adoption of a Postcolonial lens and a Cross-cultural perspective help to clarify the concepts of consumer lifestyles, the role of SEKPs, and importance of achieving UN’s SDG11 in the transformation of rural communities into sustainable tourism destinations in Palembang, Indonesia.

Sustainability outcomes of volunteer tourism in rural communities: empowerment and the role of volunteer tourism organizations

PurposeResearch on the sustainability outcomes of volunteer tourism (VT) in rural communities is rare. Drawing on the perspectives and theoretical concepts related to multiple forms of capital, empowerment, and sustainability, this paper presents the sustainability outcomes of VT and the role of empowerment and volunteer tourism organizations (VTOs) in attaining greater sustainability.Design/methodology/approachA total of 37 semi-structured interviews and 4 documents were conducted with stakeholders on the perceived socio-cultural impacts of VT on two farm communities in Vietnam. A qualitative thematic coding analysis was used to identify themes that explain the sustainability outcomes of VT.FindingsThe results of this study were divided into the nine themes of relationships, community resource development, job opportunities, educational effects, cultural exchanges, health, awareness of environmental conservation, physical changes, and promoting local products and tourism.Practical implicationsVTOs should involve the local community in the decision-making process for volunteer activities. It is essential to share their voices and concerns about how the VT is set up to ensure that they meet the community’s expectations. Moreover, the government can act as a bridge between VTOs and host communities, providing training and support services to locals after volunteers leave.Originality/valueThis research creates a model for connecting the sustainability outcomes of VT, empowerment, and the role of VTOs.

Struggling in silence? The formation mechanism of implicit conflict in rural tourism communities

This study explored the formation and influencing factors of the understudied implicit conflict in rural tourism communities from a social capital perspective. An exploratory sequential mixed-method approach was used, including semi-structured interviews and household surveys with rural tourism community residents. The study identifies the formation mechanism of implicit conflicts and examines the influencing factors that drive conflict intentions. Findings revealed that residents experienced three stages of development: potential opposition, cognitive engagement, and conflict intention. The influencing factors, such as formal institutional disembedding, network disembedding, and loss of relational trust, positively affected rural community residents' conflict-related cognitive engagement and informal institutional embedding, which further positively influenced residents' conflict intentions. This study contributes to a better understanding and measurement of implicit conflict in rural tourism communities. It also provides significant implications for stakeholders to develop more comprehensive tourism planning and management strategies to enhance residents’ support for tourism.

Turismo rural comunitario en un bosque seco de Perú: Diagnóstico y propuesta para la sostenibilidad

El turismo rural comunitario representa una actividad propulsora del desarrollo económico local aprovechando sosteniblemente los recursos de una comunidad. El Área de Conservación Privada Bosque Seco de Colina Juan Velasco Alvarado -ACP BSC JVA- tiene potencial turístico latente que, hasta la fecha, no ha sido debidamente explotado por la Comunidad Campesina Juan Velasco Alvarado -CC JVA-. El objetivo del estudio consiste en formular una propuesta de desarrollo de turismo rural comunitario del ACP BSC JVA. Se ejecutó un análisis situacional de la oferta y demanda turística del área donde se reconocieron al Cerro Pilán, la Mina Inca, los Jaguayes Salas y Cerezo como los recursos turísticos más importantes, mientras que el principal problema identificado fue la deficiente gestión del turismo del ACP BSC JVA por parte de la CC JVA. Como resultado final, se elaboró una propuesta de plan de acción que plantea el fortalecimiento de capacidades, la mejora de la infraestructura ecológica y la formación de alianzas estratégicas, para así lograr la sostenibilidad de la gestión de los recursos naturales en el bosque seco y el progreso de la comunidad local.

A Study on the Endogenous Dynamics of Rural Tourism Green Development in Yunnan Under the Background of Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality

Yunnan Province has abundant rural tourism resources, however, the vigorous development of rural tourism in Yunnan is accompanied by ecological safety risks. Severe tourism pollution restricts the sustainable development of rural tourism in Yunnan. 'Greening' has become the main way for the sustainable development of rural tourism in Yunnan under the background of 'dual carbon'. Based on the 'dual carbon' background and combining the perspectives of 'driving factors for green development' and 'green behavior', this paper deeply analyzes the current situation of 'greening' in rural tourism communities in Yunnan during the process of rural tourism development. Combined with the social network relationships of rural tourism green development communities in Yunnan, the original model is modified. On the basis of social exchange theory and group dynamics, a relationship model between social network environment and participation behavior mechanism is formed. Through this model, the endogenous driving force of rural tourism community residents to participate in green development is explored, and methods and paths to motivate the driving force for green development are sought. Ultimately, it achieves that residents can participate, are willing to participate, and have the ability to participate in all aspects of the green development of rural tourism in Yunnan, promoting the sustainable development of rural tourism and communities in Yunnan.

Local Champion: A New Leadership Perspective to Create Sustainable Tourism in Rural Communities

UNWTO called 2017 the Year of Sustainable Tourism. In Indonesia, tourism growth is increasingly prominent, with a trend towards non-mainstream destinations. In 2022, interest in cultural immersion will increase, as evidenced by the development of dozens of tourist villages. Rural tourism has a substantial role in the economy and tourist sector, exerting a favorable influence on economic expansion, population stability, and the enhanced worth of indigenous goods. Rural tourism is a sustainable development strategy, including cultural conservation, natural resources and community empowerment. The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is targeting 224 independently certified tourist villages by 2024. The Community Based Tourism (CBT) approach is used in managing tourist villages to achieve sustainable tourism. Ministerial Regulation Number 9 of 2021, which outlines the Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism Destinations, demonstrates Indonesia's dedication to promoting sustainable tourism. Although rural tourism can provide economic benefits, effective leadership is required for competitive and sustainable development. A "local champion" with sensitivity to local culture, innovation skills, experience, team collaboration and networking skills is required. Destination leadership styles, including decision making, team direction, and resource management, are key in shaping rural tourism development. In this context, the leader needed for sustainable tourism village development is a local champion with an effective destination leadership style.

Turismo Rural Comunitario en La Sierra Norte de Oaxaca (México). Una mirada en tiempos de pandemia

This work focuses on Rural Community Tourism (CRT) in the Sierra Norte de Oaxaca, Mexico. From secondary sources, a conceptual approach is made, to go on to analyze the characteristics of this form of tourism, its strengths and weaknesses, as well as the reflective opportunity offered by the pandemic caused by COVID-19. Finally, an evaluation of its achievements is carried out based on three groups of aspects: the influence of the CRT in the economies of the inhabitants, the relations between tourists and the native material and immaterial heritage and culture, and the dynamics of business management, patrimonial and identity of the settlers with respect to the CRT. The conclusions show a positive evaluation about the three aforementioned areas, although with various limitations and tensions. At the same time, they highlight the opportunities that this type of tourism raises for the new normal that is presumed in the future.

Turismo rural en comunidades quechuas en el lago Titicaca: una alternativa para mejorar ingresos económicos

The development of rural community tourism allows improving economic income at the family and community level. The objective was: To compare and analyze the development of rural tourism activities and their influence on the improvement of economic income for the families of the Quechua communities of the Capachica peninsula. The methodology applied was to record and systematize the activities to develop rural community‐based tourism, using strategies for the development of activities with an ecosystemic approach (social, economic and environmental). The results show the potential of natural areas such as beaches, viewpoints, handicrafts, and living cultures, all of which attract tourists. With the intervention of the project, 61.2% are engaged in tourism and 38.4% in handicrafts, for example, in the community of Llachón, the increase of tourists in three years was 194%. It is concluded that the Quechua families are entrepreneurs at the family level in rural tourism activities, which allowed them to improve their income.

Green Recovery and Regenerative Tourism: The Success Story of Miso Walai Homestay in Building a Resilient Rural Tourism Destination

Summary Although green recovery and regenerative tourism are well-documented in the literature, case studies at the destination level are lacking, and this is because the application of these concepts is still in its early stages. Therefore, this case study examines a rural tourism community in Lower Kinabatangan, Sabah (Malaysia). The authors used longitudinal analysis from 2007 to 2019, semi-structured interviews, and participant observations to illustrate how the area has managed to successfully recover from intense deforestation following years of exploitation by timber companies and also cushion the impact of COVID-19. The community pushed for a recovery agenda based on community-based ecotourism and green recovery, which resulted in the growth of regenerative tourism. This study examines how the community has seized new opportunities through ecotourism at Miso Walai Homestay, linked to a community forest-restoration programme, and how these opportunities were intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic to compensate for the lack of tourists. Consequently, this case study shows how Miso Walai Homestay has become a model of a regenerative approach that promotes a resilient rural tourism destination. Key success factors have been the agile community leadership, an early start in community forest restoration, partnerships with volunteer organizations, the establishment of trust and reputation, the promotion of citizen science, and the embrace of green recovery initiatives. This case highlights the success of Miso Walai Homestay in leveraging green recovery initiatives to cushion the financial impact of two situations. First, after the withdrawal of the timber companies from the Kinabatangan region (Malaysia), a new model of community-based tourism was established through a community forest restoration programme. Second, during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic, income streams were consolidated from green recovery. The Miso Walai Homestay enjoyed a subsequent recovery stage in tandem with the gradual return of international tourists. Information © The Authors 2023

Beauty and tourists’ sustainable behaviour in rural tourism: a self-transcendent emotions perspective

Tourism can contribute to the sustainable development of a rural destination, but tourists’ sustainable behaviours often determine the extent of impact. Thus, exploration of the factors that affect the sustainable behaviours of tourists participating in rural tourism may facilitate the development of sustainable rural tourism. Using self-transcendent emotions as a primary lens, our study proposes a theoretical framework to unpack the relationship between engagement with beauty, self-transcendent emotions, and sustainable behaviour. Based on questionnaire data collected from 437 tourists in Luanchuan, China and analysed using Mplus, results show that engagement with beauty (natural beauty, artistic beauty, and moral beauty) can stimulate tourists’ self-transcendent emotions. The stronger the perception of engagement with beauty, the stronger the self-transcendent emotions, which promote sustainable behaviour. This study offers a theoretical understanding of the sustainable development of rural tourism, showing that beauty of destination attractions can affect sustainable behaviours through the experience of self-transcendent emotions. It also provides management suggestions for the development of rural tourism. By optimising the management of tourists’ engagement with beauty and self-transcendent emotions, rural communities can guide tourists’ behaviour to improve sustainable tourism in rural communities.

Alternative ecotourism perspectives within the protected conservation sites and farming communities amid environmental degradation and climate change-bound rural exercises

PurposeThis study aims to examine the latent capability of alternative-responsible tourism and ecotourism management in sustainable tourism and rural communities' livelihoods in Musina Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa, and benchmark the capability with other African countries amid climate change and environmental degradation dilemmas. Hence, the aforementioned objective coordinates with various agrarian locations elsewhere abroad.Design/methodology/approachLiterature reviews, document reviews, interviews, and focus group discussions were employed to gather data, which was enriched by field observation views. To this end, potential climate change-linked environmental degradation, rural tourism, agricultural, and environmental management issues came to the fore.FindingsEnvironmental degradation poses a possible threat to natural resource management, as evidenced by the rural development, ecotourism and agricultural activities within the study region. Thereupon, environmental degradation supplements the probability of adverse effects from climate change and precarious incomes. According to the research, responsible tourism and ecotourism are vital to promoting sustainability in rural localities.Originality/valueThe plenteous biodiversity of the municipality offers a better scenario for sustainable ecotourism in tandem with agritourism efforts to address the identified ongoing and liability issues. These issues have therefore symbolized the need for an adequate and allied tourism strategy to boost the local people in Musina Municipality and, conceivably, throughout the continent.

Sustainability of smart rural mobility and tourism: A key performance indicators-based approach

The concept of smart mobility and tourism has evolved from a technology-driven approach to one that focuses on sustainable solutions to address economic, social, and environmental issues. The United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) provide a framework for measuring and tracking progress toward sustainability goals. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are a useful tool for measuring and tracking progress towards these goals, allowing for continuous monitoring and evaluation of progress, identification of areas for improvement, and directing targeted interventions. This research aims to develop an indicators-based framework to evaluate the sustainability of smart and sustainable mobility and tourism in rural areas. Rural areas have often been neglected, or at least less prioritized, in the sustainability development of the mobility sector. The study also seeks to identify the overlap of KPIs between rural tourism and mobility, and how improved green mobility services can enhance sustainable rural tourism. Smart mobility and tourism indicators have a strong mutual relationship in rural communities, driving economic development, improving the quality of life for residents and visitors, and creating more sustainable and livable communities. Smart mobility and tourism indicators also play a crucial role in supporting the UN SDGs by providing data and insights that can inform policy and decision-making. The results of this research conclude how the target and performance setting of projects on sustainable mobility and tourism in rural communities support each other, and how they support achieving SDGs.

Participation Management Pattern of Tourism Village Communities in Encouraging Sustainable Tourism

The tourism sector is very vulnerable to the influence of situations that result in the decline or cancellation of tourist visits, such as: the tension of the country's political situation, natural disasters, the global economic downturn, terrorism and security issues, human rights issues, and most recently related to epidemic situations Covid-19 pandemic. The island of Bali has really felt the bad impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic, where the decrease in foreign tourist arrivals to Bali caused many tourism industries in Bali to close which caused many employees to be laid off and even laid off. An "anomaly" occurred in Babahan Village because precisely during the Covid-19 Pandemic the development and development of the Babahan Rural Tourism was very strong and community participation was also high. A qualitative approach with a combination of FGD and Likert Scale Analysis and Importance Performance Analysis was used to find a naturalist pattern of community participation according to the situation and the benefits it brought to a sustainable rural tourism. The results of data analysis will be presented in a qualitative descriptive manner to provide a clear picture of the motivation and patterns of community participation towards sustainable rural tourism. The results showed that the motivation for community participation was the desire to advance by 33%, high responsibility for their work by 26%, motivation to do their best work by 21%, the desire to learn to master their work by 11%, and recognition of the performance carried out by 9%. According to Tosun's Participation Typology (1999), the participation of the Babahan Rural Tourism community includes "Spontaneous Participation", where the pattern of community participation in the development of the Babahan Rural Tourism is: 1) Undercurrent; 2) Active participation and direct involvement; 3) Participation in the entire development process including decision making; 4) Receive benefits; and 5) Participation in evaluating.

Potatoes: Food tourism and beyond

Food tourism includes various activities and attractions linked to food. Potatoes can also be also linked to tourism, or food tourism as testified by special Victorian Potato Industry Tour organized in and around Melbourne, Australia or Rural Community Tourism in the Potato Park; a tour around Cusco, Peru; various culinary events dedicated to potatoes in Slovenia and many others. This paper contributes to the knowledge on tourism and specifically food tourism by proposing to “open” a new niche of research based on specific foods or their ingredients, which up to now seems to have touched only a very few specific foods (or drinks) and associated ingredients—for instance, the case of grape/wine is exemplar. However, many other specific foods or ingredients could be singularly one-by-one) researched to examine their role in tourism. This paper discusses the role in tourism/food tourism of a “humble tuber”, the potato. This is a desktop research which draws on previous literature, organizational and institutional documents and information and data, such as the list of museums around the world. The aim is to analyse the knowledge from various disciplines linking the potato to tourism to understand the various ways in which it can directly or indirectly have a role in tourism. The article presents the potato including its (social) history, gastronomy in relation to tourism/food tourism. The article argues that the potato should be promoted given its various uses and universality of application as a food and as an ingredient.

Sports Tourism in Rural Communities: Small Events, Big Impacts

While the literature supports sports tourism as an effective economic development strategy, small to medium-sized rural communities often do not have the resources to promote mega sports events. This paper presents estimates of the 44th Annual Racer Roundup College Rodeo’s economic impact. In addition to providing a case study of a relatively minor event, the aimed contribution is twofold: it offers solutions to typical challenges faced when estimating smaller-scale events’ economic impacts, and it suggests a simple way to obtain benchmark values for the magnitude of the results. Evidence suggests that the total output generated, given the cost to set up the rodeo, was considerably larger than if the same amount was invested in other traditional rural sectors. The primary catalyst for this result was the tourists’ expenses, in line with the regional economic development export base theory.

Editorial

<p class="Text">Rural community tourism (RCT) represents a kind of tourism based on rural community where local population takes control over the process and major of benefits. For tourists, it focuses on actively participating in a rural lifestyle. For destinations, it contributes to the socioeconomic and sustainable development of the country.</p><p class="Text">Nelly Condori-Fernandez from Peru and his colleagues researched to develop an Intelligent Platform (IP) that meets the needs of the different stakeholders of the RCT and published in Spanish. It’s our honor to get the authorization to translate it into English and republish on <em>Smart Tourism</em>. Furthermore, we collect detailed cases involving Chinese rural tourism such as the seedbed of Han culture Barkol, Shangluo and rural tourism in Fujian Province. Other related articles are also contained.</p><p class="Text"> </p><p class="Text" align="right">Managing editor</p><p align="right">Dr. Yina Xu</p>

Factors Affecting the Resilience of Rural Tourism Community in Terms of Sustainable Development (Case Study: Tourism Target Villages of Hamadan County)

Factors Affecting the Resilience of Rural Tourism Community in Terms of Sustainable Development (Case Study: Tourism Target Villages of Hamadan County)

Social entrepreneurship in tourism: a chance for rural communities

The article argues that enterprises that develop the tourism sector in rural territorial communities have the characteristics of social enterprises and meet the threefold criterion – they ensure the well-being of residents of rural settlements. Ukrainian legislation gives local governments broad powers to plan and finance tourism activities, but their capacities are very limited as most rural budgets are subsidized. It is possible to promote tourism in rural communities only if the majority of residents are aware of all the benefits and responsibilities associated with this activity. The article confirms that uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources can lead to their irreversible depletion. The example of ski resorts shows that the practice of a single economic activity for the whole area poses a threat to local communities, as the well-being of residents becomes very dependent on natural and climatic conditions. The article emphasizes that the maximum use of available local resources is an important factor in the success of social entrepreneurship in tourism at the level of rural communities. In order to avoid conflicts when planning business, it is necessary to take into account the natural and anthropic resources of each community and compare the forms of their use with local values and traditions. Differences in the results of the impact on the local community as a result of the activities of the classic and social tourism enterprise on its territory are analyzed. The main vectors of the impact of social entrepreneurship in tourism on the social aspects of rural areas are highlighted.

Indigenous Experience as a Strategy to Develop Rural Tourism Identity

Rural tourism is often seen as a tourist attraction, where tourists make their visit only to catch a glimpse of the village’s potential. In contrast to this trend, the rural tourism of in Tanon sub village of in the Semarang regency (Central Java) attempts to offer more by developing its local strength as “Desa Menari” (lit. Dancing Village). It offers tour packages that invite tourists to experience a life in the village, interact with local communities, find happiness, and reinterpret life. The objective of this study is to find out how the local community uses indigenous experience as a strategy to develop rural tourism in the area. This study implemented the communication theory of identity (CTI) by applying qualitative method with a case study approach. After observation and in-depth interview were conducted to rural tourism community, this study found that rural tourism community actively introduces tourism based on local wisdom experiences through the conservation of tourism in Dusun Tanon, including the conservations of community arts, traditional games, and farmer. Indigenous experience as a village identity is constructed according to its purpose, i.e. spreading harmony, knitting inspiration, and reaping memory. This village identity includes personal identity, relational identity, and enacted identity that invite tourists to capture the process of self-meaning or journey into oneself as a psychological experience.

Social exclusion and conflict in a rural tourism community: A case study from Likeng Village, China

Social exclusion is a dynamic process in which an individual or a group becomes isolated from an organization or community and deprived of their due rights and entitlements. This study analyzed a case of social exclusion and tourism conflict in Likeng village, Wuyuan, a rural Chinese community that is economically reliant on the tourism industry. Thematic analysis of interviews with 15 Likeng villagers across two time periods (2010 and 2016) revealed that residents experienced various dimensions of social exclusion. A lack of opportunities for effective participation in economic opportunities, political decisions, and community relationships related to the development of tourism in the community were key features of social exclusion, eventually leading to conflict. Linkages between local problems, policies, and community life should be established and opportunities for meaningful resident input in tourism development decision making should be utilized in order to decrease social exclusion and conflict.