Mary CAWLEY, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
Stephen HYNES, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
John DEELY, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
The populations and societies, cultures, and economies of rural areas are interconnected with other rural and urban entities in multiple ways and at different geographical scales from the local to the global (Woods, 2007). Nevertheless, local rural environments and resources remain important for the maintenance and well-being of the residents, their economies and cultures, following the principles of holistic sustainability. Tourism has been assigned a role in these contexts for several decades. On-farm tourism, the recreational use of land and inland waterways, and visits to heritage sites have received particular attention. Coastal environments are important tourism resources for the rural populations and their economies in many countries and issues of sustainability in these specific contexts merit further attention (OECD, 2016). This presentation is designed to contribute to better understanding of the potential role of coastal tourism in the sustainability of rural societies and economies. The research consists of a critical review of an extensive body of literature relating to sustainability in tourism with particular attention to the threats and the opportunities that exist in rural coastal areas. The review consists of three parts: first, models of sustainability in tourism are examined with reference to their evolution over time and their applicability to the coastal environment; secondly, the barriers to pursuing holistic sustainability in tourism in rural coastal areas are reviewed; and, thirdly, potential solutions to overcoming the barriers and capitalizing on the potential contribution of tourism to rural coastal societies and economies are assessed. These findings are presented as a contribution to the relevancy of speaking of the sustainability of rural systems in the 21st century.
Mots clés : Sustainability|Rural|Coastal|Economies|Societies
A103295MC