Rural tourism as a strategy of territorial promotion

Abstract

In recent years, the process of technological and productive change in rural areas has caused a strong impact on the territory organization. On the other hand, from the urban areas there is a revival of rural spaces, both for the location of second homes, as well as tourism and recreation. This article focuses on this new dynamic that is identified as new rurality, which emphasizes the territorial dimension. From this new perspective, relationships between human settlements are expressed in an urban-rural continuum, which begins to show the progressive development of non-traditional agricultural activities and non-agricultural activities in rural areas. The analysis of these changes, in the case of the immediate area of influence of a middle-sized city (Bahía Blanca, Argentina), highlights the dynamic role of tourism and recreational activities in rural development as one of the rural non-traditional strategies most used.