Empowering rural tourism in Europe. Understanding the educational needs of a rising sector.

Empowering rural tourism in Europe. Understanding the educational needs of a rising sector, is one of the results of the European Erasmus+ project “The European Network for the Promotion of Culinary and Proximity Tourism in Rural Areas” (www.gastrotourism. eu). It presents the results of the field research conducted by the partners of the project (Pôle Métropolitain Pour L’entrepreneuriat Le Carburateur, Igor Vitale International Srl, Balkan International Academy, Rivensco Consulting Ltd, Association for Education and Development of Disabled People, EUROASIA Innovative Society Association, Asociatia De Dezvoltare Intercomunitară Harghita, University of Gastronomic Sciences), under the scientific coordination of the University of Gastronomic Sciences. www.gastrotourism.eu 9 The book is divided in three parts that guide the reader in understanding better the characteristics of the project (Part I), in exploring the results of the research (Part II) and acquiring the tools needed to replicate the research (Part III). Specifically, Chapter 1 introduces the European project and its aims and goals. Chapter 2 presents the partnership. Chapter 3 presents the research and its methodology. Chapter 4 explores the common needs of rural tourism in Europe with specific attention to education. Chapter 6 discusses the results highlighting the suggested areas of educational intervention. Chapter 7 presents the contents of the theorical and methodological toolkit of which tools are illustrated in the following chapters (from 8 to 11). The volume is concluded by the bibliography. The present book is edited by Michele F. Fontefrancesco and includes materials from all the partners. The authors of the individual chapters are indicated in the opening of each one, while the descriptions of areas as well as the summary of the individual focus group discussion has been provided by the partners operating in each location. All the partners want to thank the organizations that supported the field research and all the participants to the discussions that allowed the completion of the research.