Top Possibilities of of Rural Tourism
Many rural communities have not yet explored their tourism potential. A few entrepreneurs in the area may have started but have not really explored possibilities to enhance tourism in their area.
When you look hard enough, new possibilities open up and when the effort involves the whole community you have enormous potential.
When you look hard enough, new possibilities open up and when the effort involves the whole community you have enormous potential.
Folk Art in the San Center in South Africa. Source: aesta1
Take, for example, one of the communities we have visited organised itself very well. This village did pottery and the whole village worked together. One family just worked on glazing and the rest of the village went there to have their pottery glazed.
Those in the village who were very good merchants sold the pottery to international buyers. Others, just wanted to do their art so they opened their workshop to tourists who’ve wandered the place in search for more original creations. They demonstrated the art of doing unique pottery pieces.
Others, opened their workshop to those interested to learn pottery or do one they could bring home. One lady was the tourist guide and regaled us with stories about the village.
Others, opened their workshop to those interested to learn pottery or do one they could bring home. One lady was the tourist guide and regaled us with stories about the village.
Mekong Delta. Source: aesta1
There are so many possibilities villagers can explore when they work together. They can put their resources to much better use. They can focus on one thing and do it really well.. not all of them doing everything mediocre.
I have also heard of communities working as one to meet deadlines. Whatever the activities are, they often build up the community.
Competition is healthy. If several in the community provide the service, the competition enhances the service as each one tries to differentiate or better the service they offer. such has to be encouraged.
Competition is healthy. If several in the community provide the service, the competition enhances the service as each one tries to differentiate or better the service they offer. such has to be encouraged.
Ratanakiri in Cambodia. Source: aesta1
Japan, of all countries, has really done this and has promoted this as well in their television channel, NHK World. Watching Japanese celebrities take the buses or hike to these villages and highlight the village restaurants, unique food or craft and other attractions make one want to visit these places.
Other places have also developed their own way of promoting their place. I was surprised to see all of a sudden this year pictures of friends and families all going to the tiny island of Guimaras. They were there not so much for the beaches but for the mangoes. This island prides itself of the sweetest mangoes in the Philippines and the promotion is "Eat all You Can". So, May, being the season for mangoes, visitors troop to the area.
Other places have also developed their own way of promoting their place. I was surprised to see all of a sudden this year pictures of friends and families all going to the tiny island of Guimaras. They were there not so much for the beaches but for the mangoes. This island prides itself of the sweetest mangoes in the Philippines and the promotion is "Eat all You Can". So, May, being the season for mangoes, visitors troop to the area.
The same is true in Cambodia. When the river shrimps appear around November in Takeo, folks from other parts of Cambodia and foreigners as well go there to sample this delicacy.
Why do we go to Gruyere? For its cheese. Or Roquefort in France for that matter? We want to sample the real thing.
It is not only food that we scour places for. Other attractions as well. For example, Dong Ho is Vietnam is famous for its folk art painting so we go and visit. Phu Vinh for its bamboo craft and Bat Trang for its ceramics.
There are so many more possibilities can be explored by communities to attract visitors to their place. Below are listed so of these:
Why do we go to Gruyere? For its cheese. Or Roquefort in France for that matter? We want to sample the real thing.
It is not only food that we scour places for. Other attractions as well. For example, Dong Ho is Vietnam is famous for its folk art painting so we go and visit. Phu Vinh for its bamboo craft and Bat Trang for its ceramics.
There are so many more possibilities can be explored by communities to attract visitors to their place. Below are listed so of these:
Ikat Weaving in a Cambodian village. Source: aesta1
12 Tourism Possibilities the Village Can Explore:
- Unique crafts
- Landmarks
- Particular food dishes
- Home stays
- Rural activities
- Great artists
- Music
- Museum Artifacts
- Great people
- Natural beauty
- Wildlife
- Unique Product - Coffee, Tea, Dried Fruits