Complementarity of Multifunctional Agriculture and Rural Development with Rural Tourism and Possibilities for their Implementation in the Republic of Serbia

Rural economy is not strictly related to agriculture, but also includes the so-called non-agricultural income genereting activities in rural areas.. Rural areas in Serbia are characterised by spatial-geographic diversification, socio-economic devastation and relatively good ecological, cultural and historical preservation. Thus, the concept of sustainable development imposes itself as an imperative in strategic planning and is in line with the increasing demands for the development of rural tourism, because it is rural tourism provides opportunities and has the capability to connect a larger number of economic activities in rural areas. The concept of rural tourism cover two complex because it touches upon two important economic sectors: agriculture and tourism. The key question for the Republic of Serbia is determining the “gap” between the current situation and the desired objective. To this end, the paper approaches the complex problem through phases. The first step shows theoretical and methodological approach to the concept of multifunctional agriculture. Later on, the concept of rural tourism is explained with a review of the current situation, and in the end complementarity within the development of rural tourism (between agriculture and tourism) is indicated as well as the significance it would have on initiating the overall economic activities in rural areas. Expectations, based on particular countries’ experiences in the European Union, are that the application of the model of multifunctional agriculture and within it the implementation of rural tourism in areas that possess the necessary conditions, could reinforce the overall economic activities and contribute to ending the current negative trends. The state with its institutional mechanisms and development policy should play an important role in this process.