Importance of Rural Tourism in the Rural Development

Rural development is a process that accounts for improving the living conditions of rural population and diminishing disparities of development between urban and rural areas, protecting environmental and cultural values, focusing on improving the social and physical structure, and considering the balance between environment and natural resources. In rural development, the goal is to maximize the benefit of rural population from the elements that help agricultural, economic and social development. Agriculture is the common production activity in rural areas; however, it cannot provide employment by itself for the rural population. Therefore, alternative activities should be explored in order to increase employment, to solve the migration problem, and to increase the diversity in income in rural areas. One of these activities is tourism. In this study, it is aimed to emphasize the importance of tourism together with natural, cultural and historical values, which constitute main source for tourism. Hence, rural development is addressed within economic, social and cultural aspects; rural development policies and projects, and applications of rural tourism as well are surveyed; and significance of rural tourism activities in rural development is highlighted. As a result, it is set forth that in rural development, natural resources should be preserved sustainably and properly transferred to next generations. And, in order to achieve these objectives, necessary proposals are introduced.