The role of stakeholders in development of agro tourism in post-transition countries

Abstract

Agro tourism could have a positive impact on the mitigation of depopulation in most rural areas of post-transition countries. Arguments for promoting the development of agro tourism include changing negative demographic trends in such areas and year-round supply and demand characteristics. As the main stakeholders in agro tourism are rural and family farms, the development of this selective form of tourism has a direct positive impact on the growth of the living standards of the local population in rural areas. The study focused on the role of stakeholders in the development of agro tourism in post-transition societies. The research was conducted by comparing the experiences of the Republic of Croatia and Montenegro. Croatia is strategically oriented towards tourism, but the share of tourism in GDP is obviously high and the share of agro tourism negligible. Montenegro has good experience with the development of agro tourism. Austria’s experience with agro tourism development was analysed as a control variable. The aim of the study is to show the actual influence of the main stakeholders on the development of agro tourism in the post-transition countries.