THE RESOURCE BASIS AS INCENTIVE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TOURISM - CASE STUDY OF THE MOSLAVINA

Abstract

Rural tourism began to develop in Europe much sooner than in Croatia. Despite this, advances have been made and the development of rural tourism has become increasingly interesting since the beginning of the 21st century. When it comes to the development of rural tourism, the continental part of Croatia possesses specific advantages. One such advantage is the region of Moslavina, located in central Croatia and administratively divided into four cities and nine municipalities. In this study, special focus will be placed on family farms (OPGs) as the bearers of potential for the development of rural tourism; the legal basis for the development of this rural tourism will be analysed in detail, followed by an examination of resources such as agricultural holdings, demographics, social and public infrastructure (cycling and themed routes, internet access, accommodation) and other activities that are vital for tourism in the region in general, but which also constitute the essential preconditions for the development of rural tourism specifically. The working hypothesis of the study is that the existing advantages and preconditions for the development of rural tourism in the Moslavina region have not been properly utilised due to the administrative fragmentation of the region and insufficient investments in various forms of promotion, despite the fact that the available resource basis is ideal not just for rural tourism, but also for many other potential types (hunting, recreational, medical, ecological, etc.).