Call for Papers
ACTIVE COUNTRYSIDE TOURISM
The Regional Studies Association
Research network on tourism and regional development
In association with
International Centre for Research in Events, Tourism and Hospitality (ICRETH)
Leeds Metropolitan University, UK
23-25 January 2013, Leeds, UK
The UN has recently highlighted the quickening global trend of urbanization, forecasting that this will accelerate further as developing nations become increasingly urban. This will put extra pressure on urban resources and communities, but will also exacerbate the growing divide between urban and rural areas, in terms of economic and social development. Rural regions are already experiencing fundamental challenges to their ways of life and social fabric, as traditional land-based occupations are in decline and younger and better educated rural residents migrate to cities for greater work, social and cultural opportunities.
Rural tourism offers a possible solution to the problems associated with lost economic opportunities and population decline that accompany the waning of agriculture. Many governments and regional authorities have embraced rural tourism as an opportunity to bring new money into rural regions, stimulating growth, providing employment opportunities and thus beginning to halt rural decline. Rural tourism offers opportunities in terms of accommodation and active countryside pursuits, the latter of which may be well-placed to capitalise on the move away from mass tourism products and a consumer desire for more niche and tailored offerings.
The last 25 years has seen a growth in active countryside tourism as increasingly urban populations seek relaxation and leisure in rural areas. Ranging from traditional countryside pursuits, such as walking, horse-riding, and shooting, to the increasingly popular 'adventure sports' or 'extreme sports', such as snowboarding, windsurfing and kayaking, rural regions offer the required natural resources and quiet, picturesque settings necessary to enable tourists to experience rurality and, frequently, controlled risk and excitement as an alternative to the perceived pressures and constraints of urban life. This may offer rural regions new opportunities for sustainable development.
However, the possibilities of rural tourism to promote rural regeneration have been criticised for being over-stated and unrealistic. Rural tourism has frequently been found to under-deliver in terms of expected economic benefits and job creation, and rural communities may lack the skills and experience required to successfully attract and satisfy tourists. This may be exacerbated in relation to tourism products built around rurally-based sports and leisure pursuits, which often require specialist knowledge, training, and equipment, and familiarity with specific subcultures for marketing and promotion.
This research network meeting seeks to question the contribution active countryside tourism can and does make to rural regions. How can rural areas benefit from the possibilities offered by active countryside tourism? What needs to be done to attract specific niche tourism markets to rural regions? How do active tourists consume and experience the countryside?
What are the needs, interests and motivations of specific subgroups (e.g. horse riders, para-gliders, rock climbers), and how can rural communities capitalise on these potential tourism markets? What is the role of regional and national governments in promoting and facilitating the development of active countryside tourism?
Amongst the themes that could be considered are:
* Innovation in active countryside tourism
* Sustainable active countryside tourism
* The rural tourism labour force (e.g. skills shortages, labour shortages, outsourcing etc.)
* Agricultural diversification and active countryside tourism
* Understanding specific subgroups of active countryside tourists
* Sports tourism in rural regions
* Place and destination branding for active countryside tourism
* The role of tourism public policy in rural regional development
* Barriers to the development and expansion of active countryside tourism
* Active countryside tourism in developing regions
* Event tourism in rural regions
* Marketing of active countryside tourism
* Opposition to active countryside tourism in local rural communities
* Presentation and understandings of rurality and nature through active countryside tourism
We welcome papers on these and other topics relevant to the conference themes. We will also be happy to accept papers addressing other aspects of tourism and regional development.
Proposals
Paper proposals (title and an abstract of not more than 300 words) should be submitted to Dr Kate Dashper - [log in to unmask] by Friday 29 September 2012. All presenters must register for the conference.
Key dates
29 September 2012 - deadline for submission of abstracts.
8 October 2012 - notification of accepted abstracts.
7 January 2013 - deadline for registration.
23-25 January 2013 - research network meeting.
About the Tourism and Regional Development research network
This RSA research network aims to examine tourism diversity from the perspective of regional development, in order to identify current challenges and opportunities. This may then provide the basis for better informed integration of tourism in regional development strategies, moving beyond political short-termism and buzzword fascination. The Leeds meeting is the final of three planned gatherings (following on from Ostersund, Sweden, Spring 2011 and Antalya, Turkey, January 2012). The Tourism and Regional Development research network is a recognised meting point for all those with an interest in issues relating to tourism from a regional development perspective. The research network is supported financially by the Regional Studies Association and organised by:
Nese Kumral, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey - [log in to unmask]
Marek Kozak, University of Warsaw, Poland - [log in to unmask]
Henrik Halkier, Aalborg University, Denmark - [log in to unmask]
Kate Dashper, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK - [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
About the network meeting
The workshop will take place in Leeds, a city in the North of England situated not too far from the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The county of Yorkshire boasts two and a half national parks, as well as recognised Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, coasts, moors and forests. Yorkshire is a key destination for active countryside tourism, often combined with more urban-based heritage, cultural and retail-based tourism. Leeds is well served by national and international transport links.
Further details about the conference programme, costs, accommodation and travel will follow shortly.
Please check the Regional Studies Association website for further announcements -
www.regional-studies-assoc.ac.uk<http://www.regional-studies-assoc.ac.uk>
Bursaries
The RSA has kindly provided bursaries of up to 200 Euros to support travel of RSA students and early career members to encourage wide participation in the working group. (Participants can join the Association and request a travel bursary at the same time).
Conference proceedings
All contributors will be invited to submit full paper versions to be considered for post-conference publication.
For further information on this conference, please go to http://icreth.wix.com/countrysidetourism#!home/mainPage
Best regards
Daniela
===
Daniela Carl
Research Officer and Part-time Lecturer
International Centre for Research in Events, Tourism and Hospitality (ICRETH)
School of Events, Tourism and Hospitality
Carnegie Faculty, Leeds Metropolitan University
Brontė 206, Headingley Campus
Leeds LS6 3QS
United Kingdom
Phone +44 (0)113- 812 8541
Fax +44 (0)113- 812 8544
===
To view the terms under which this email is distributed, please go to http://disclaimer.leedsmet.ac.uk/email.htm
To send a message to everyone on the list, send an email to: [log in to unmask]
To leave event-management, send an email to: [log in to unmask] with the message:
leave event-management
as the only text in your message.
You can access this list, including archives and changing your settings, from the World Wide Web by going directly to:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/event-managment.html
|
