Rural tourism as a motivated sociocultural activity

Šiuo metu Lietuvoje dar tik formuojasi kaimo turizmo samprata, nors kaime turistai lankosi jau seniai – Lietuvoje nuo seno buvo įprasta ils÷tis kaime. Suvokdami kaimo turizmo svarbą ir naudą, įvairių šalių kaimo turizmo tyrin÷tojai band÷ apibūdinti šį reiškinį. Užsienio šalių literatūroje jis vadinamas įvairiai: poilsiu kaime, kraštovaizdžio turizmu, agroturizmu, poilsiu agrarin÷je aplinkoje, atostogomis kaime. Daugumoje šalių vartojamas terminas „kaimo turizmas“ (pvz., Anglijoje, Airijoje – rural tourism, Danijoje, Kanadoje, Estijoje – farm tourism ir pan.).At present in Lithuania the understanding or concept of rural tourism is still in the stage of development though people have been coming to villages to have a rest since old times. Acknowledging the importance and benefit of rural tourism the researchers of it have always been trying to give an accurate description of what rural tourism is. In the literature on this issue in different countries are used different words, such as a rest in the country (village), countryside tourism, agrotourism, a rest on a farmstead or a holiday in a village, to describe it. In most countries this type of relaxation or activity is called “rural tourism” though in some countries like Denmark, Canada, Estonia it is called “farm tourism”.Švietimo akademijaVytauto Didžiojo universiteta