Rural tourism

At a time of change and uncertainty in the countryside, when many traditional rural industries are in decline or needing to adapt to stay in business, tourism represents an opportunity to stabilise and support businesses and services.

If carefully introduced and managed, and appropriate in scale and activity, tourism can help revitalise declining community facilities and services to the benefit of businesses, residents and the local economy.

West Oxfordshire is fortunate to have an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) within its district which is one of only 40 AONBs in England and Wales. The Cotswolds became an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1966. Being an AONB means that the Cotswolds are protected as a very special landscape - a living working landscape - of national importance for everyone to enjoy.

Rural Tourism's concern is to preserve and enhance the environment. West Oxfordshire District Council, working in partnership with the Cotswolds Conservation Board run a Green Tourism Project. The project's three primary aims are encouraging tourism businesses to:

participate in the Green Tourism Business Scheme, where businesses are assessed against a range of environmental and social measures
participate in the Visitor Payback scheme, where visitors are asked to make a voluntary contribution that will help fund conservation work in the local area
promote sustainable tourism

Rural tourism involves a lot of partnership working and West Oxfordshire District Council always welcome opportunities to foster new relationships. For further information please contact Leisure and Tourism or call 01993 861563

Useful Contacts
Cotswolds Conservation Board
Oxfordshire County Council Countryside Services
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust
Environment Agency
The Wychwood Project
The Lower Windrush Valley Project
The Rural Ways Partnership
The Countryside Agency
Green Tourism Business Scheme