Sustainable rural tourism development based on agricultural resources: The eco-inn initiative in Taiwan

Rural tourism is often considered an economic alternative for rural areas facing decreasing profits and requiring a second or third economic footing. However, like other tourism activities, rural tourism results in a full range of environmental impacts. In particular, accommodation generates various environmental loadings and should be managed carefully. An eco-inn, the environmentally friendly accommodation based on organic agriculture, is proposed here and the practical experiences from Wan-An Village are examined. According to the results, the idea of eco-inn is feasible, and it may suit not only in Taiwan but also other countries. In summary, an eco-inn is not only beneficial to environment, host community, and tourists, but also can contribute to sustainable development in rural areas such as eco-village formations.