We present an economic impacts model based on direct expenditures for European cycle routes, originally designed in 2009 as part of a study commissioned by the European Parliament. At its request, the study was updated in 2012, including a refined version of our model which takes some limitations of the former model into account. Our main findings are that cycle tourists’ daily spending is comparable to that of other tourists, and that cycle tourism can contribute significantly in particular to rural economies that have not previously enjoyed mainstream tourism development. (European) cycle tourism thus proves to be useful as an (additional) tool for regional rural development. We arrived at a total estimated direct expenditures in Europe of almost €44 billion (€35 billion from day trips and €8.94 billion from overnight trips). We applied the model to the routes of EuroVelo, the European cycle route network which is currently being developed, showing their considerable economic potential of over €7 billion in direct expenditures. Furthermore, cycle tourism has a far lower negative impact on the environment (in terms of carbon dioxide emissions) than other forms of tourism. Cycle tourism is therefore a good example of a low carbon tourism product which could be developed as a major slow travel opportunity across (rural) Europe.
LINK
Rural children are a largely understudied population in language and literacy research, despite the fact that these children often enter school with delays in their language development. Since most rural areas suffered from so-called selective rural outmigration, many parents in rural areas are lower or middle educated. The home literacy climate, however, depends not only on the educational level of parents, but also on their lifestyle. In this study, we examined whether parental educational level and literacy use – as a feature of parental lifestyle – predict the language skills of children in Grade 1 in Northeast Netherlands. Structural equation modelling analyses revealed that the effect of parental literacy use on code-related skills is only significant in K-1 and K-2. In Grade 1, however, literacy use had a modest effect on oral language skills. The findings stress the importance of parents’ literacy use for informational purposes.
LINK
The connection between rural tourism and literary tourism, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship practices, lacks a deeper study in its varied intersections and dynamics. This paper considers these relations, within the limits of potentiality and inherent risks, taking as a best practice example a non-profit organization based in the north of Portugal. At stake here are concepts such as literary tourism, rural tourism, lifestyle entrepreneurship and local sustainable development, focusing specifically on the use of local resources, with local impact, to create a differentiated offer in order to target a niche market. Rural tourism entrepreneurship, highly motivated by lifestyle aspirations, born out of literary heritage, can be sustainable and result in innovative products embedded with endogenous resources, with a significant positive socio-economic impact on the local community.
LINK
Rural areas in the northern parts of the Netherlands have lots of potentials to provide a healthy environment for their residents. However, population changes (ageing, outmigration) have a negative impact on the quality of life of residents. The GO!-Method that has been developed by the National Institute of Public Health and Environment (RIVM) in The Netherlands is used in this study. It allows us to identify the opportunities and needs in a systematic way and combine local knowledge by involving residents and local authorities with results of research for a sustainable move towards a healthier environment. Our presentation will focus on the GO!-Method as a bottom up method and its use in identifying threats and changes in realising a healthy living environment.
DOCUMENT
The Northern region of the Netherlands has beautiful landscapes, a nice diversity of green and blue areas, and dispersed settlements. However, some recent population changes can become threats to health and wellbeing in these areas.The rural areas in the three northern provinces - Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe, see youngsters leave the region for which reason they are aging faster than other regions in the Netherlands. As a result, some villages have faced major population decline that is leading to lose of facilities/amenities and decrease in accessibility and social cohesion. Those who still live in these villages; are relatively old, low educated and have low-income. To develop a deeper understanding of the health status of the people living in these areas, and help them to improve their living environment, the GO!-Method is being applied in this study. This method has been developed by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) of the Netherlands and is inspired by the broad definition of health by Machteld Huber: the ability to adapt and direct control, in terms of the physical, emotional and social challenges of life, while paying extra attention to vulnerable groups. A healthy living environment is defined as an environment that residents find it pleasant, and encourages and supports healthy behavior. The GO!-method integrates six domains that constitutes a healthy living environment: Health and lifestyle, facilities and development, Safety and hygiene, Social cohesion and active citizens, Green areas, and Air and noise pollution.First of all this method will identify opportunities for a healthier living environment using existing information and perceptions of residents and other local stakeholders in order to strengthen social participation and quality of life in these rural areas. Second this approach will connect identified opportunities with available and effective evidence based interventions in order to develop an action plan from the residents and local authorities perspective which will help them to design their municipalities healthier and more resilient. This method is being used for the first time in rural areas to our best knowledge, in close collaboration with the residents and local authorities of the three provinces to create a sustainable process and stimulate social participation.Our paper will present the outcomes of the first phase of this project in collaboration with the municipality of Westerkwartier, located in the northwest of the province of Groningen. And will describe the current situation, and identify local assets, opportunities, and policies relating to healthier environment; as well as needs and challenges to achieve goals. The preliminary results show that rural demographic changes in the northern Netherlands have negative impacts on service provisions and social cohesion, and there is a need to understand this complicated situation and improve the quality of life in those areas.
DOCUMENT
This chapter explains the role of authenticity in creative tourism in rural areas and identifies future research needs. Community-based tourism and creative tourism both use the concept of authenticity extensively, but uncritically. To develop creative tourism in rural areas and prevent commodification, the theoretical assumptions and definitions behind authenticity must be considered. The study analyses how different theories of authenticity are applied in creative and community-based tourism literature and suggests a synthetic theory of authenticity applicable to creative tourism development in rural areas. This theory was explored in the context of five Balinese villages using a microethnographic approach with participant observation and expert as well as tourist interviews. Findings extend the discussion in the literature and provide further evidence that the synthesized definition of authenticity is reasonable for creative tourism in rural areas. This definition of authenticity may develop differently in other cultural contexts. More research is also needed to classify expectations of authenticity among different types of creative tourists. Finally, as tourism influences how authenticity changes over time, future research on the carrying capacity of rural areas is essential for the development of creative tourism in rural areas.
LINK
Both connectivity and accessibility are important for regional development. Places and communities need to be connected in order to be part of the wider economy, and people need to have access to places, other communities and labour markets to fully participate in society. In contemporary society, not only physical connectivity and accessibility but also digital connectivity plays an important role in the economic and social potential of regions. The relationship between them is also an important issue. This report discusses and assesses the role of physical and digital connectivity in the socioeconomic development of rural regions. In particular, we discuss issues concerning digital connectivity and rural development in remote rural areas within the North Sea Region.
DOCUMENT
This paper deals with Rural Tourism in Twente. A comparison is made between Twente and several other regions in The Netherlands. Economic results like Employment and the development in Tourism over the last few years is taken into the comparison. It becomes clear that Twente is a region with a well-developed rural tourism infrastructure, supported by several tourism initiative boards and local communities, which a marketing strategy to attract middle aged and elderly persons, looking for an active and educational holiday. In region marketing, the focus is clearly on the rural tourism possibilities of Twente.
MULTIFILE
This paper relies on knowledge gained from ITRACT (Improving Transport and Accessibility through new Communication Technologies), an Interreg IVB project in the North Sea Region. We will show how digital innovation to promote mobility and accessibility in rural areas is limited by poor data infrastructure and a lack of digital engagement. It is argued that these limitations perpetuate the remoteness of these areas.
DOCUMENT
This book addresses the demand for evidence-based approaches to rural communication services (RCS). It presents theoretical foundations of RCS and a series of case studies showcasing the appropriation of media by smallholders and the promotion of enabling policy environments. Building on the RCS approach promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the 12 contributions included in this book deal with three prominent dimensions: (1) the need for theoretical grounding and action research; (2) the importance of promoting equality and inclusiveness, balancing digital and non-digital communication; and (3) the importance of addressing capacity, infrastructure, institutionalization and policy in an integrated manner. The book also shows how theoretical contributions inform rural practice and demonstrates how RCS is grounded in and informed by theory. In addition, it highlights key areas for research, capacity development and policy support to operationalize RCS. In a nutshell, it deepens our understanding of how RCS can be inclusive and drive collaborative change.
LINK
