Policy Insights - Reinforcing rural tourism resilience

Rural tourism can bring economic and demographic benefits for rural communities and helps to maintain traditions and heritage. Yet tourism remains exposed to risks such as pandemics and other crises. EU policy actions help to safeguard the resilience of rural tourism and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) includes funding options for food tourism and farm diversification, ecosystem services that enhance nature tourism, as well as other rural opportunities in community-led and cultural tourism.

This article offers insights from analysis by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) on trends in tourism in Europe, including in rural areas, as well as key actions of the European agenda for tourism 2030 by the European Commission. It then reviews policy actions that are directly supporting rural tourism projects, including EU funding opportunities, revolving funding instruments and other finanicial support tools.

A focus on 'Tourism in the CAP' highlights the possibilities offered by the CAP to support rural tourism by supporting related activities, such as agritourism (offering opportunities for farm diversification), short supply chains (effective mechanisms for optimising income opportunities from the world’s lovers of local food), nature tourism, cultural tourism and LEADER projects that can make rural areas more attractive for domestic and international tourists.