Parts of European rural development policies are meant to empower local decision makers. These policies are implemented in very different multilevel governance contexts in the member states. We ...question the extent to which the institutional differences at the different levels affect the implementation of LEADER (an approach for Community-led Local Development). This contributes to a better understanding of the causes and consequences of different types of LEADER implementation. The research is based on ten case studies in France, Germany and Italy. First, there is an examination of the three different administration systems and the variations of Rural Development Programmes. Based on analyses of documents and interviews with stakeholders, we analysed institutional differences in the LEADER implementation at local level.
The research involved a comparison of two case studies dealing with the perceptions of the local population to tourism. The effects and the control of tourism development were analyzed, as well as ...the availability of information on sustainable tourism and impact on the community in two national parks (NPs) in Serbia. The survey method was applied on a sample of 227 (NP Đerdap) and 210 (NP Tara) respondents. The survey results identified the strong positive perception of the presence of tourists among the two categories of respondents and also certain differences regarding economic benefits of tourism. Research also recognized a poor impact of tourism on the local community in terms of their knowledge and personal involvement. Education and employment in tourism industry were found to be strong factors affecting the residents’ perceptions. Some independent variables significantly predicted the level of local population’s support for tourism in both national parks (tourism impact on job creation, tourism impact on fostering a local culture, etc.). This comparative analysis provides inputs for directing future tourism programmes and devising a development policies adjusted to the needs of the local community.
Based on an exploratory research, this study highlights the role of pure rural entrepreneurship towards rural development of an inland and mountainous area of Portugal—Montemuro. Thanks to the ...Institute of Cultural Affairs and the energy of the rural communities, some people of the rural area have been stimulated thirty years ago to develop endogenous, entrepreneurial and innovative initiatives in the countryside. The benefits of all these rural entrepreneurial and endogenous initiatives are visible nowadays. Some villages of the rural area have more people, socio-economic dynamics were revitalized, and some job opportunities were created. Therefore, in a context of depopulation and crisis of peripheral and interior areas, our study demonstrates that rural entrepreneurship and innovation based on endogenous resources are key for the welfare of the rural society.
This study compares two EU quality-label schemes in Italy and Spain:
and
, respectively. It aims to demonstrate that social capital plays an important role in both establishing and managing ...geographical indications (GIs), and that obtaining this label reinforces existing networks, so boosting rural development. The research is based on semi-structured interviews with 7 key informants, the analysis of institutional information and legislation, and of statistical data on the socioeconomic structure of both geographical areas. The research reveals two quite different experiences in obtaining EU quality labels, regardless of the fact that the products, places and people involved in this process have various aspects in common. This study illustrates how the advantages resulting from these high-quality labels and their impact on rural development can vary in relation to the level of social capital and the strength of local networks.
The paper connects culture, tourism and rural development. It tries to make an overview of various forms of cultural tourism in Czechia. Attractions of cultural tourism are identified and ranked ...according to their cognitive function. Their list includes cultural heritage in spheres of archaeological sites, architecture, arts, folklore, pilgrimages, technical works, cultural events or protected landscape areas. The culture of wine in Southern Moravia has been chosen as an example. Its analysis was elaborated using the Importance/Performance Analysis. Czechia has great potential for the cultural tourism development in rural areas but it seems to demand a great deal of work when one needs to be constantly reconciling the changing interests of tourists with the potential of the regions. One of the important goals is to attract tourists into rural areas and thus limit their concentration in the most attractive places. Rural cultural tourism seems to be a significant aspect in this respect. The part of the study is the example of the adaptation of the current situation with COVID-19 to properly support the development and cultural potential of domestic tourism in South Moravian region in relation to the economic impacts on international tourism.
The concentration of farmland has potentially a negative impact on planning for local rural development as it impedes access to land for other rural initiatives. Land policies in the European Union ...aiming to reserve lands for local communities are constrained by principles of the EU single market, such as the free movement of capital and the freedom of establishment. Especially in several Central and Eastern European member states, the European Commission has critically reviewed policies to shield lands from the single market. This paper reviews and analysis this issue in relation to the planning for rural communities.
This paper examines the dreams for the future of young adults in Midden-Noord-Brabant and Zeeland, the Netherlands. Through 274 qualitative surveys and focus groups with 12 participants, it explores ...their dreams for the future, the obstacles they foresee in realising these dreams, and the influence of these obstacles on their stated life plans. The findings reveal a preference for areas outside settlements in residential dreams. Limited housing and career opportunities are identified as foreseen obstacles. These obstacles shape participants' stated life plans, which become more urban-oriented. Removing these obstacles can facilitate the realisation of rural residential dreams and promote rural areas as attractive areas to settle for new generations.
Most EU policy documents highlight the need to ensure and contribute to the achievement of the multifaceted goal of social sustainability. In this framework, the paper investigates tokenism, a common ...phenomenon of crucial importance for rural development, although not widely studied. The paper focuses on a scoping literature review to analyse the forms of tokenism affecting the territorial development practices and which factors can prevent this phenomenon. More specifically, recent scientific papers dealing with tokenism, social capital, rural areas, and decision processes were analysed to shed light on the various underhand practices in which tokenism occurs and possible limiting factors. The results show the role played by adopting participatory approaches and by some variables (e. g., trust, influence, involvement, civic engagement, information) in reducing the phenomenon of tokenism. It is important to highlight how improving the local amount of social capital represents a key factor positively affecting the success of territorial development strategies. The originality and the value of the present study lie in the fact that notwithstanding tokenism is analysed by several authors, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies focusing on the relationship between tokenism and territorial development.
The aim of this paper is to assess the development of business activities in the Czech countryside in the period from 2008 to the present and to show possible limitations and perspectives of this ...area. The research was conducted by analysing economic entities located in rural municipalities in the peripheral areas of Western Bohemia. The assessment is based on the use of the Public Database of the Czech Statistical Office (statistics on economic entities, number of economic entities, number of economic entities created in 2008–2020) and a dataset on economic entities defunct in 2008–2021 provided by the Czech Statistical Office. We have analysed the economic entities by geographical location, size of municipality and industry specification. We use analysis of variance to assess whether the population size of a municipality has a statistically significant effect on the number of economic entities per 100 residents of the municipality, and we use visualization cartographic methods, density maps and cartograms to assess spatial differentiation. We have found that the nature of business activities in the study area is changing along the lines of urban locations, but, due to a number of factors, many rural economic entities are in a more economically precarious position.
This paper analyses the strategy developed thus far to have Andalusian olive-growing landscapes included as a Cultural Landscape on the World Heritage List (UNESCO). The research method used is ...descriptive, reflexive and prospective, and seeks to achieve a systematic and holistic overview of a complex reality. In addition to the corresponding bibliographical review, the research has been nourished by qualitative information from land surveys (field visits) and interviews with experts consulted during the preparation of the two technical dossiers of the candidacy produced so far. The results include the rationale for Outstanding Universal Value and the basis of the protection and management plan for the property. Subsequently, the paper discusses the possibilities for rural development that can be derived from this initiative through the virtuous interactions between the property, the region and the food (olive oil) obtained from traditional olive groves.
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