THE ASSUMPTIONS OF SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TOURISM IN LITHUANIA (CASE STUDY OF EASTERN AUKŠTAITIJA REGION)

Abstract

Tourism is one of the activities in rural areas that creates added value, rapidly becomes a part of the global economic and social processes. The authors of the article have analysed the assumptions of successful development of rural tourism in Eastern Aukštaitija region. The article provides the thoughts and reflections of the scientists and researchers in the area of the topic being analysed. What assumptions have determined successful development of rural tourism in the region? The aim of the research is to perform the analysis of development of rural tourism in Eastern Aukštaitija region and to discuss the assumptions of successful development of rural tourism in this region. The objectives of the research include the performance of theoretical analysis of development of rural tourism and the execution of the situation analysis of rural tourism in Eastern Aukštaitija region. The following methods have been applied: the analysis of scientific references, quantitative research – survey and generalization of the questionnaire data. The article includes summarized results of the research that aims at determining the assumptions of successful development of rural tourism in Eastern Aukštaitija region. Successful development of rural tourism depends on external (economical, natural, legal, political, social and technological) and internal (the size of homesteads, the number of services, the experience of the owners of the homesteads in rural business, professional knowledge of the staff and the ability to communicate in a foreign language(s), etc.) factors.

Keywords: a tourist, a region, rural tourism, development of the rural tourism.

Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2015.124