Appearance and role of tourism in change of function of small villages

Abstract

Speaking about small villages (settlements with population below 500) and tourism usually two facts are assumed. According to the first one nothing more than village tourism can be reckoned with, while according to the second one the tourism is considered as cure-all for keeping the small villages alive.The reality is however much more complex.

On the one side the significance of tourism in small villages cannot be overestimated since they can accomodate 4,2 p.c. of the tourists on national and regional level, though merely  2,2 p.c. of the tourists take this opportunity. At the same time the tourism assures a definitive change om 10-15 p.c. of the settlements.

As beneficial change can be appreciated in these villages that opportinities are generated to complete the income of local families, the villages improve in looks, values rise to the surface thus improving self-respect and comfort-feeling of the locals, services are expanded, the guests transmit know-how, new models and innovations to the locals and accordingly solidarity gets stronger while socal exclusion is diminished. All these together may contribute to keeping the population from leaving the village. This can be achieved if the development of tourism is realized with respect to the social and corporate conditions. Otherwise conflicts may arise between the tourist enterprises and locals, between the guests and locals embittering their life, making the beneficial results impossible even the social exclusion can become more pronounced.

According to the organization form as well as the relation to the village in question the significant tourism services can be divided into three different groups. In the study survey has been made of

1. pecularities of holiday villages showing enterprising and second-home-creating spirit,
2. characteristics of classical country hospitality rich in oecological and gastronomical aspects,
3. services of wellness and active tourism appearing in small villages.

All these encourage an inevitable change of function for survival of small villages but have different impact on the local development. Up to the form of tourism at a small village the expected advantages and risks are divers and different ways of development are to be applied. A holiday village may save the real estates and maintain the local population but at the same time it may endanger the environmental aspects and curtail locals of material advantages. Locals can be drawn into tourists services thus traditions can be conserved, on the other hand we have seen unsuitable architectural and cultural solutions. Locals can be drawn also into village lodging facilities provided there is a suitable supply on labour force.

Based on the three types of products solutions have been set up, characteristics of supply and demand have been presented and proposals for development have been drafted.