Rural Tourism is described as any specific form of sustainable tourism development aiming at bringing the visitor-tourist in contact with nature and the activities that can be carried out, economically and socially enhancing the countryside, leaving the environment and the specific cultural characteristics of each destination unchanged. According to the different types of activities that can be carried out, rural tourism can be divided into the following categories:
– Eco tourism/green tourism. The activities included in this category are carried out in a way that does not disturb the balance of the area and are usually of a scientific and educational nature. Eco tourism promotes environmental education and the sustainable management of the natural environment.
– Agritourism. It refers to the provision of reception and hospitality services and/or catering in areas shared with farms. These services are offered in combination with activities related to agricultural production and to the protection and enhancement of the natural and man-made rural landscape. The activity of agri-tourism is also combined with the production of agricultural products. The agri-tourism enterprise may offer purely rural activities for its customers in the accommodation or on the farm, such as demonstration, information, monitoring or participation in activities and activities that promote the visitor-tourist’s contact with rural life, sustainable agricultural production, gastronomy, tasting, wine-tasting and the protection of biodiversity.
– Wine tourism This concerns the provision of reception, guiding, hospitality and catering services in areas shared with wine-making and/or wine-producing (vineyard) premises. These services are offered in combination with activities related to viticulture and wine production.
This form of tourism enables visitors to get closer to nature, increases the number of visitors to rural areas and makes a significant contribution to environmental protection.
The EduTourism project is implemented in the framework of the INTERREG V-A Cooperation Programme “Greece – Cyprus 2014-2020” and is co-financed by the European Union (E.T.P.A.) and the National Funds of Greece and Cyprus.