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| Rural Business |
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| In the past |
 Farming dominated the rural economy. Agriculture accounted for 11% of Gross National Product. Farming or its support services such as blacksmiths, farriers, or wheelwrights, provided almost the only source of employment for a population with limited access to transport |
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| Today |
| The rural economy is more complex. Whilst agriculture accounts for 0.7% of GDP, tourism now accounts for 4.8% of GDP. Other land based business such as forestry are of increasing importance both as a source of renewable fuel and for leisure.
Yet all rural business is interdependent. Tourism depends on good land management to attract people and most of the countryside is farmed in some way. Farming and forestry are dependent on a thriving rural economy and communities as a source of employment and services. A thriving rural economy depends on a diverse range of businesses. |
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| In a sustainable future |
The needs of all rural industries and businesses have to be balanced and work together. These include:
- Ensuring that public money is directed where it will yield the best returns for rural economies.
- Encouraging the development of diverse business sectors.
- Ensuring that business has access to a flexible workforce which itself has access to affordable housing, transport and quality social amenities.
- Recognising and building on the fact that land-based business and other sectors such as tourism are interdependent.
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