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Tourism as an Approach to Sustainable Rural Development in Post-Socialist Countries: A Comparative Study of Serbia and Slovenia

Author

Listed:
  • Marko D. Petrović

    (Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA, Djure Jakšića 9, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
    Institute of Sports, Tourism and Service, South Ural State University, 76 Lenin Avenue, Chelyabinsk 454080, Russia)

  • Aleksandra Vujko

    (Novi Sad Business School, Vladimira Perića Valtera 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • Tamara Gajić

    (Novi Sad Business School, Vladimira Perića Valtera 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • Darko B. Vuković

    (Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA, Djure Jakšića 9, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
    Department for Finance, St. Petersburg School of Economics and Management, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Kantemirovskaya St. 3A, Office 331, Sankt Petersburg 194100, Russia)

  • Milan Radovanović

    (Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA, Djure Jakšića 9, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
    Institute of Sports, Tourism and Service, South Ural State University, 76 Lenin Avenue, Chelyabinsk 454080, Russia)

  • Jasmina M. Jovanović

    (Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Natalia Vuković

    (Graduate School of Economics and Management, The Ural Federal University Named after the First President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin, 19 Mira St., Yekaterinburg 620002, Russia)

Abstract

The research deals with the sustainable development of the Serbian and Slovenian countryside, under the influence of tourism progress. The article identifies the main rural tourism competitiveness in Serbia and Slovenia, as one of the essential factors of rural development in both countries, analyzing the main contributions and making a series of proposals to guide the future research agenda. The aim of the paper is to clarify around one obviously defined objective—to point out the competitiveness of sustainable rural tourism in typical post-socialist settings. The data for this study were collected using the Integrated Model of Destination Competitiveness to observe Serbian and Slovenian competitiveness in tourism. Determinants were assessed using a survey evaluating four demanding factors and 20 supporting factors, based upon a five-point Likert Scale. The results indicated that the friendliness of residents towards visitors, easy communication between them, together with quality of infrastructure and health facilities show the highest level of statistical correlation. These are the main propositions to start an initiative for the authorities in local communities to actively participate in sustainable rural development. The findings provide tourism stakeholders with relevant respondents’ perceptions pertaining to the tourism development in non-urban areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Marko D. Petrović & Aleksandra Vujko & Tamara Gajić & Darko B. Vuković & Milan Radovanović & Jasmina M. Jovanović & Natalia Vuković, 2017. "Tourism as an Approach to Sustainable Rural Development in Post-Socialist Countries: A Comparative Study of Serbia and Slovenia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2017:i:1:p:54-:d:124608
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

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