THE ECONOMIC-IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVE TYPES OF RURAL TOURISM

Rural tourism has become an important part of many rural development s trategies in the last decade. However it hits largely been ignored by rural economists. This paper examines the impact of different styles o f tourism development on the local economy of Badenoch and Strathspey, in the Highlands of Scotland. Policy changes in tourism and agricultu re are reviewed and the proportional multiplier method used in this st udy is explained. The study contrasts the repercussions on local econo mies of 'soft', land-based tourism with those arising from 'hard', enc lave forms of tourism. The results indicate that soft tourism is more embedded in the local economy and therefore generates higher local inc ome and employment multipliers per unit of visitor spend. However, spe nd per head is higher for hard tourists, suggesting that development a gencies may have to trade off the total volume of visitor spend agains t locally beneficial effects.