Rural Tourism: A case study of regional planning in Taiwan

Rural tourism has become a new type of agricultural management in Taiwan which helps farmers break through current management dufficulties for small farms. It has two major purposes. The firs is to provide leisure and recreation for the public. The second is to increase farmers incomes.This builders discuses rural tourism in Nantou County, located in the central part of Taiwan. in 1996, Nantou county completed its comprehensive plan proposed five major development projects in thirty- five potential tourism areas. Activities include the traditional chinese tea ceremony, digging for bamboo shoots, handiwork with bamboo, fruit piching, etc. Recreational activities ( such as visits to waterfalls and enjoying local foods) are integrated into the tourism program.