3.7. Sustainable Rural Tourism
Sustainable tourism can be defined as “tourism which is developed and maintained in an area (community or
environment) in such a manner that it remains viable over an infinite period and does not degrade or alter the
environment (human or physical) in which it exists to such a degree that it prohibits the successful development and
well-being of other activities and processes (Butler, 1991). Social, cultural, economic and environmental dimensions
are often used to measure sustainability of a rural tourism (WTO, 2004). Some of the literature that has focused on
these dimensions includes the following: