Rural tourism as a means for strengthening rural economy

The aim of this paper is to identify and valorise potentials for the development of rural tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as presenting the benefits of rural tourism for strengthening the rural economy of the area. Through the case study of the selected new tourism product in the form of a network of bicycle paths, the direct and indirect benefits of rural tourism in the context of strengthening the rural economy would be identified. Rural tourism includes all tourist activities that can be realized in rural areas. The impact of rural tourism on the given area manifests itself through the decrease of unemployment, the improvement of the demographic situation in rural areas, the increase of revenues, the development and strengthening of local economy and thus reduces the disparities in regional development. A priority condition for the development of rural tourism is the strong strategic and financial support, which should create the necessary environment and promote a certain concept of development. Rural development, is a key instrument for the restructuring of the rural areas and agricultural sector and the activation of tourism potentials, through the diversification of agricultural production that will be attractive to tourists. Therefore, one of the goals is to show rural tourism as an additional activity in the rural areas as one of major development opportunity that will help the development of the rural environment. Rural areas are areas that, on the one hand, are abundant with the preserved natural and cultural resources necessary for the development of tourism, and on the other hand significantly lagging behind in economic development in relation to urban areas. Valorisation of potentials for rural tourism was carried out on case study of two municipalities and with FAS (Factors, Attractors, Support) methodology, which is actually the first example of applying this method in Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on available references.