摘要：Within a context of global trade liberalisation and constrained national budgets, agriculture in many countries has proved incapable of sustaining household livelihoods an d socio-economic development in rural areas. The post-war industrial success of several Asian countries has suggested various alternatives for rural development, including tourism for domestic and possibly foreign visitors. After outlining the economic characteristics of rural tourism and its policies, this paper reviews the evolution of government policies in this area in East Asia, including the establishment of "tourist farms" and "pilot scheme" villages in Korea since the 1980s. A field survey of some 200 Korean village leaders and others, undertaken in 2004, is reported as to the attitudes of this policy clientele towards the tourist potential of their own villages, and ways of exploiting this potential. On this basis, conclusions are drawn as to future policies in this area, taking into account the capabilities of the rural population in East Asian countries, and the need for and scope of governmental action.
