Advances in Sustainable Rural Tourism: Methods, Strategies and Practice—2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues:

This Special Issue is a continuation of a previous Special Issue, “Advances in Sustainable Rural Tourism: Methods, Strategies and Practice”.

In modern society, consumers are visibly reorienting towards ecological products. This reorientation is also relevant to tourism, with increased interest in the rural environment, which is perceived as having individuality, specificity and authenticity and resources that are a key feature of rural areas and the "must haves" that tourists are increasingly demanding. These features guarantee the obtainment of both ecological tourism products as well as those with a high degree of originality. Rural tourism can also ensure the viability and stability of rural localities, addressing the phenomenon of depopulation and the abandonment of homes and land that are present in many areas.

The interaction between the rural environment, which is particularly fragile, and the dynamism imposed by tourism generates certain risks. The sustainable development of the rural environment and the capitalization of local resources through tourism activities require a smart holistic approach that considers the economy, society, and the environment through different methods and techniques. The final aim of such an approach is to achieve strategies that generate competitiveness and development with a focus on sustainability, so as to generate an alternative for agricultural problems and ensure improvements in the quality of life of of local communities by diversifying the economy and maintaining economic stability.

Therefore, this Special Issue, entitled “Advances in Sustainable Rural Tourism: Methods, Strategies and Practice—2nd Edition”, is oriented towards original research/studies focusing on concrete proposals regarding the capitalization of specific rural environmental resources through tourism, specific strategies intended to highlight the role of rural tourism in ensuring sustainable development, case studies exploring different methods and strategies applied in different areas for the development of rural tourism, and the proposal of strategies for capitalizing on local community resources with an emphasis on sustainability, among others.

For this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Case studies regarding the development of rural tourism in a particular area;
• Concrete directions/strategies for capitalizing on the resources of rural communities through rural tourism;
• Analysis of the impact of rural tourism on the local community using specific methods;
• Analysis of the openness of local communities towards rural tourism;
• Examples of sustainable rural tourism entrepreneurship;
• Innovative proposals for "branding" the rural environment through rural tourism.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ramona Mariana Ciolac
Prof. Dr. Tiberiu Iancu
Prof. Dr. Gabriela Popescu
Dr. Tabita Cornelia Adamov
Guest Editors

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