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structuration theory. Structuration theory and the new regional geography have emerged,
emphasising producers of the interpenetration of structure and agency. Structure 'both
constrains and enables people to take particular life paths, the collective effect of which is
to produce and enable new members of society in their life paths…[where] geographical
behaviour' (Perkins 1993:117) affects people's specific situations. Therefore, the
geographer in a rural setting would need to consider both structure and human interaction
and how it is all brought together in the context of the locale (for more detail, see Thrift
1977; Giddens 1984; Perkins 1993).
In the context of rural tourism, the theoretical analysis advocated by Perkins (1993)
for rural recreation also has a relevance, particularly when one considers the debate
engendered by Bramwell (1994):
does the physical existence of tourism in rural areas create a rural tourism
that has a significance beyond the self-evident combination of particular
activities in a specific place? In other words, do the special characteristics
of rural areas help shape the pattern of tourism so that there is a particular
rural tourism?
(Bramwell 1994:2)
While the comments by Bramwell (1994) certainly highlight the need for more attention
to the concept of the locale, Cloke (1992) indicates that structuration theory does have a
role to play, although, as Perkins (1993) indicates, geographers may need to consider the
value of humanistic research to ask questions that can address the issues raised by
Bramwell (1994): how do people value rural areas and the relationships between locales?
Unfortunately, much of the research published to date remains theoretically uninformed
and empirically driven. As a result, much of the research on rural tourism by geographers
has, with a number of exceptions, failed to contribute to a growing awareness of its role,
value and significance in the wider development of tourism studies and its importance as
a mainstay of many rural economies. In this context, Butler and Clark's (1992) comments
are relevant in that:
The literature on rural tourism is sparse and…conceptual models and
theories are lacking…. Many of the references in tourism are case studies
with little theoretical foundation…or they focus on specific problems….
Some take a broader perspective focusing on issues and process…. There
is, therefore a lack of theory and models placing rural tourism in a
conceptual framework.
(Butler and Clark 1992:167)
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