Promoting sustainable tourism in rural and natural areas through small business innovation: the case of Atenor village (Northeast, Portugal)

摘要

Despite these challenges, tourism-focused activities in rural and natural areas of low population density are rapidly increasing (Kastenholz et al., 2014). Indeed, rural tourism and ecotourism can be a catalyst for the regeneration and economic development of rural areas, where the traditional economic activities are declining. The potential increase of the attractiveness of these areas enhances the local community's pride and self-esteem, as well their awareness for the value of local natural and cultural heritage. Therefore, the positive effects will tend to be more intense if tourism is developed using endogenous resources. This includes a focus on the natural and cultural heritage of a region, which provides opportunities for visitors to interact with the local community. The jobs that are created as part of this interaction, in turn, have the potential to slow down and perhaps reverse the population decline in rural areas.