The editors have all worked together in the former Leisure and Tourism Management Department of the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) which produced the 'Auchincruive Declaration' on tourism and rural sustainability in 1998, and which this book helps to perpetuate. They have common interests in sustainable rural development, notably Morag Mitchell in economic evaluation, Irene Kirkpatrick in equine recreation development, and Derek Hall in retirement recreation in the countryside. Dr Mitchell is now Rural Economist with SAC Aberdeen, Ms Kirkpatrick had administrative roles with SAC Auchincruive, and Professor Hall is Visiting Professor with Häme Polytechnic, Finland and a partner of Seabank Enterprises, Scotland.