KNjIGA SAžETAKA / BOOK Of ABSTRACTS - Treći međunarodni ...

4. TemATSkA cJelinA: RegionAlni RAzvoJ, finAnciRAnJe i međUnARoDnA SURADnJA
Snježana Tolić
Poljoprivredni fakultet u Osijeku, Zavod za agroekonomiku
Kralja P.Svačića 1d, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia
tel.: 031 554 961, fax: 031 554 853
e-mail: stolic@pfos.hr
Tugomir Majdak
Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, Uprava ruralnog razvoja, EU i međunarodne suradnje
Ulica grada Vukovara 78, 10000 Zagreb
tel.: (01) 6106 111, fax: (01) 6109 201
e-mail: tugomir.majdak@mps.hr
Title of the contribution:
The importance of local action groups to develop tourism
in rural areas
Keywords:
rural policy, rural tourism, Leader approach, local action
groups, local development strategy
Type of presentation:
Oral presentation
Theme:
Regional development, financing and international cooperation
- Implementation of rural policy
Purpose of study:
To identify opportunities in rural tourism by using help
from EU funds and to clarify the role of local action
groups in the empowerment of rural enterprises in the
sector of tourism services through local development
strategies. Local Development Strategy has a key role in
the implementation of the LEADER program and developing
partnerships for rural development.
Methodology/Approach:
Empirical observations were used during the implementation
of information and educational activities
in the process of establishment of local action groups
(LAGs) in Croatia. Furthermore, there were used research
experience of basic specific characteristics of
the LAGs, and research of programming documents for
the promotion of rural development. The resulting information
and knowledge were used for the evaluation
of internal and external factors of development of rural
tourism (SWOT), to define the development potential of
the NUTS 3 regions in the Republic of Croatia.
Findings:
This work, which is based on own experience and researches,
shows the process of implementation of
LEADER programme in Croatia. It clarifies the impact of
Structured abstract
individual components of the IPA program in encouraging
entrepreneurship in rural tourism. Furthermore,
explains the significance of local action groups, as key
organizational structures in rural areas for the realization
of development projects, with emphasis on the
development of rural tourism. Based on the analysis of
local development strategies and quality of partnerships
formed in rural areas, with the help of defined indicators,
assessed the constraints and opportunities for
further development of rural tourism in Croatia.
Originality/Value:
This paper is based on the original authors’ experience
who are actively involved in the implementation of the
LEADER approach and the establishment of LAGs in
Croatia since the beginning of this process. Final guidelines
and recommendations given in this paper, addressed
to the makers of local development strategies
and implementing bodies, represent a significant contribution
to the further implementation of rural policy
in Croatia, with emphasis on the development of rural
tourism.
Research limitations/Implications:
The biggest limitation of the research stems from the
lack of clear criteria, indicators and statistical data for
statistical process monitoring implementation of rural
policies and LEADER measures, because it is a new process
in Croatia.
Practical implications:
Practical application of this work stems from the definition
of guidelines and recommendations for the implementation
of LEADER measures in Croatia, with emphasis
on rural tourism sector and the adoption of clear
criteria for evaluation of local development strategies,
which can be used in defining the regulations for the
Leader and its improvement.
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