During recent years we have seen a shift away from the massified and dull kind of tourism that’s been thriving since big parts of the middle class started to afford going abroad for holidays in the latter half of the twentieth century. An increasing number of travellers want another form of tourism, one where they can be active, where there is context and where they don’t feel like a walking wallet in an artificial world.
In the wake of the pandemic that has been crippling the tourist sector for the last two years it has become even more clear that another model is needed, and rural areas can provide for that.
Today, many travellers want to experience real situations, to work or learn while they are away, to meet professionals and locals who are not just full-time employees in the tourism sector, such as chefs, teachers, farmers, local entrepreneurs, and just ordinary people who do interesting things to learn and be inspired by.
And the countryside has lots of interesting things going on, such as that you can take part in the harvest and learn to cook from it, follow craftsmen in their work and practice yourself, take care of your health or your personal development in beautiful surroundings, or just be active in the middle of nature.
There has long been a preconceived notion that only urban areas with modern hotels or heavily renovated castles or monasteries in the countryside can offer fantastic overnight stays with a high level of service.
Technology can bring comfort and connectivity to remote areas, where smaller traditional constructions can be turned into fantastic lodgings, combined with modern off-grid solutions without losing any or their authentic character and naturalness. And a wide range of quality personal services can be added to them and provided from local professionals.
These are places that can offer an unsurpassed beauty and tranquillity in genuine rural areas, and given the change of taste lately, this seems just the right place to be.