Recent years have witnessed a change from the passive, low key use of rural areas for recreation to the explosion of tourism as a highly active and dominant agent of change and control in the countryside and associated rural communities. This book considers the effects of rural recreation and tourism with special reference to: the economics of rural restructuring public sector rural policies imaging and reimaging the social dynamics of rural change sustainability of tourism and recreation in rural areas Contemporary reflections of each of these issues are brought together by Richard Butler, C. Michael Hall and John Jenkins from experts in Australasia, North America and Europe. The book provides a critical evaluation of the enthusiasm and promotion given to this growth industry by government and private bodies, and examines opportunities and challenges associated with the development and management of tourism in a rural environment.