Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
construction of theme parks in rural environments, second homes (Gartner 1987),
timeshares, conference centres, holiday villages and designation of environments as
special places to visit (e.g. national parks) have all contributed to the insatiable tourism
appetite for rural environments (also see Insight below). Bramwell (1991) highlights the
concern for more responsible and environmental forms of rural tourism in the 1990s with
the sustainability debate firmly focused on the rural environment. Bramwell (1991)
examines the extent to which rural tourism policy in Britain has been integrated with
concepts of sustainability, outlining the role of the English Tourist Board and
Countryside Commission policy formulation process. The Countryside Commission
points to the need for improving the public's understanding and care of the rural
environment as outlined in its consultation paper 'Visitors to the Countryside'. A number
of special issues of journals have also focused on sustainability and rural tourism (e.g.
Tourism Recreation Research
1991;
Trends
1994;
Journal of Sustainable Tourism
1994)
with geographers contributing to the debate (e.g. Butler and Hall 1998; Hall and Lew
1998). However, it is apparent that tourism in a rural context displays many of the
features of the symbiotic relationship that exist between tourism and the environment and
is a key component of its very attraction to tourists.
INSIGHT: Wine, food and tourism
Wine, food and tourism are all products that are differentiated on the basis of regional
identity (Hall et al. 2003a). Wine is often identified by its geographical origin (e.g.
Burgundy, Champagne, Rioja) which, in many cases, has been formalised through a
series of appellation controls in turn founded on certain geographical characteristics of a
place (Moran 1993, 2000, 2001). Foods (e.g. cheese) are also identified by their place of
origin. Similarly, tourism is promoted by the attraction of regional or local destinations. It
should therefore be of little surprise that the relationship between wine, food and tourism
is extremely significant at a regional level through the contribution that regionality
provides for product branding, place promotion and, through these mechanisms,
economic development (Ilbery and Kneafsey 2000a, 2000b). Ilbery and Kneafsey
(2000b) appropriately described this process within the context of globalisation
as 'cultural relocalization'. As Moran (1993) observed:
Burgundy gives its name to one of the best known wines in the world but
at the same time the region of Burgundy becomes known because of its
wine. Moreover, the little bits of it, often only a few hectares, also derive
their prestige from the wines that are produced there. In Burgundy, the
process has developed to the extent that in order to capitalize on the
reputation of their most famous wines many of the communes…have
taken the name of their most famous vineyard. Corton was added to make
Aloxe-Corton, Montrachet to make both Puligny-Montrachet and
Chassagne-Montrachet, Romance to make Vosne-Romanee, St Georges to
make NuitsSt Georges and so on.
(Moran 1993:266)
