Apologies if you receive this more than once

Our department is currently carrying out research for the Countryside Agency
in the UK on the links between rural tourism and 'countryside capital'
(essentially the 'fabric of the countryside', ie landscapes, biodiversity,
historic features, built environment, etc.). In simple terms, our research
is concerned with examining how rural tourism contributes to countryside
capital and (vice versa) how countryside capital can be enhanced through
rural tourism activities. Brian Garrod and myself are the principal
researchers.
We would be delighted to hear from researchers/practitioners who are working
in this field (although I appreciate that the concept of 'countryside
capital' is not universally known nor understood!). We are exploring a range
of case study areas in the UK that exhibit examples of current practice in
attempting to develop links between rural tourism and countryside capital,
eg   linking regional/local food and drink with rural tourism, using rural
imagery in destination promotion, investigating how a range of rural tourism
operators 'invest' (or not) in components of countryside capital, economic
valuation of countryside capital assets, etc.
Your experiences of further initiatives/projects/case studies in rural
tourism development that tap into this theme would be most welcome, from the
UK or further afield.
Thanks for your time.


Ray Youell MSc MTS MSA
Head of Tourism Management
Institute of Rural Studies
University of Wales
Aberystwyth SY23 3AL
United Kingdom

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