Tourism Development in the Countryside

In the countryside planning authorities must carefully manage tourism development. This is necessary in the interests of rural amenity, wider sustainability objectives and the long term health of the tourism industry. The guiding principle should be to ensure policies and proposals facilitate appropriate tourism development in the countryside (such as appropriate farm diversification schemes, the re-use of rural buildings and appropriate redevelopment and expansion proposals for tourism purposes) where this supports rural communities and promotes a healthy rural economy and tourism sector. Where there is no suitable site within a settlement a new build hotel, guest house, or tourist hostel may be appropriate on the periphery of a settlement subject to meeting normal planning requirements. Other acceptable tourist development in the countryside may include appropriate self catering accommodation, particularly in areas where tourist amenities and accommodation have become established or likely to be provided as a result of tourism initiatives, such as the Signature Projects, or a new or extended holiday park that must be a high quality and sustainable form of tourism development.