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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: RURAL TOURISM AS AN OPPORTUNITY

Today, there is an imperative of sustainable development in all aspects of life and work – its purpose and crucial importance lies in ensuring economic and social growth, as well as environment protection, without threatening or endangering the needs or wellbeing of future generations. Despite the COVID-19 crisis, tourism retains its importance in economic and social aspects and sustainable (tourism) development, and the development of tourism which contributes to the sustainable development represents one of the main challenges for policy makers. In many European Union countries, rural tourism is considered to be an important contributor to the economic and social development of rural areas by reducing migrations, creating jobs and consequently better living conditions. The paper aims to provide an overview and discuss challenges and perspectives of sustainable development of rural areas in the European Union through rural tourism. Accordingly, the contribution of the paper is threefold. First, it gives an overview of the main features of sustainable development, with special emphasis on the sustainable development of rural areas. Secondly, it gives the perspective of rural tourism in the function of sustainable development with overflowing positive impacts, specifically through rural tourism. Thirdly, it gives the overview of the European Union policies and actions in the area of sustainable development, specifically considering rural areas and rural tourism, pointing out the importance of strategic approach to the development of rural tourism as a catalyst of the sustainable development of rural areas.

sustainable development, European Union, rural tourism

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