INTEGRACIJA TURIZMA U RURALNI RAZVOJ: PRAVNI OKVIR I FINANCIJSKI INSTRUMENTI ZAJEDNIČKE POLJOPRIVREDNE POLITIKE EUROPSKE UNIJE
INTEGRATION OF TOURISM INTO RURAL DEVELOPMENT: LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY

Summary/Abstract: The Common Agricultural Policy is the oldest policy of the European Union and as such has undergone numerous reforms. One of the most significant was the establishment of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development as a financial instrument for financing rural development. The Fund was established as a reflection of the change in approach to rural development - promoting multifunctional modern agriculture by supporting non-agricultural activities as opposed to traditional agriculture (tourism, environmental and animal protection, food safety, education of farmers) with the ultimate goal of increasing the quality of life and stopping the depopulation of rural areas. Climate change, depopulation of rural areas, questionable competitiveness of European farmers are just some of the social changes that have indicated the need for diversification of the rural economy through the financing of non-agricultural activities. In this context, tourism emerges as an important factor in rural development and a tool for farmers to adapt to climate, market and social changes. The aim of the paper is to determine to what extent the European legal framework and national strategic plans of the Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2021–2027 contribute to the integration of tourism into rural development. The research is based on a comparative analysis of the strategic plans of selected member states (Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and France) and an analysis of the relevant EU legal acts. The methodological approach includes a qualitative analysis of the content of strategic documents and the identification of measures and interventions intended for financing of tourism. The results of the analysis indicate a lack of measures aimed exclusively at rural tourism, which limits its development potential within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy. To conclude, the paper indicates the need for additional integration of rural tourism into the national strategic plans of the Common Agricultural Policy, as well as an increase in grants for financing rural tourism in the upcoming operational period.

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