Is rural tourism-induced built-up growth a threat for the sustainability of rural areas? The case study of Tuscany

Abstract Rural tourism (RT) has grown in many rural regions worldwide and today it is a stable driver of rural social and economic development. In this paper we argue that RT growth should follow a divergent path from sea tourism development, because failing to do so would likely push RT toward mass tourism, resulting in a harmful twofold effect: (i) given that mass tourism requires built-up expansion to accommodate larger number of tourists, in rural areas this will certainly compromise the beauty of the landscape, which is a fundamental local resource for RT; (ii) built-up growth required to satisfy seaside mass tourism expectations is often characterized as holiday resorts, artificial villages, and residential high-density condos, with a consequent loss of cultural-traditional identity, which is also a key element for rural landscapes’ attractiveness. In order to monitor the impact of RT on built-up growth we propose to investigate land development and soil consumption over time in the countryside using a GIS (Geographical Information System) approach. The analytical model will be applied to the case study of Tuscany considering circa the past quarter of century. Furthermore, we also aim at discussing the role of available planning instruments in regulating settlements and infrastructures development.