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Rural Tourism as a Factor of Rural Revitalization and Sustainability in the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina

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  • Milka Bubalo Živković

    (Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • Bojan Đerčan

    (Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • Predrag Mlinarević

    (Faculty of Economics, University of East Sarajevo, Alekse Šantića 3, 71420 Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

  • Marija Cimbaljević

    (Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • Zorica Pogrmić

    (Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • Tamara Lukić

    (Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • Bojana Kalenjuk Pivarski

    (Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • Goran Balotić

    (Faculty of Economics, University of East Sarajevo, Alekse Šantića 3, 71420 Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

  • Dejan Pljuco

    (Faculty of Economics, University of East Sarajevo, Alekse Šantića 3, 71420 Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

  • Milan Lalić

    (Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • Nikola Lopatić

    (Faculty of Economics, University of East Sarajevo, Alekse Šantića 3, 71420 Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Abstract

Due to negative natural changes in the population and intense emigration over the past three decades, from the end of the 20th century, the Republic of Serbia (RS) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have faced a demographic decline of villages. Even villages closer to larger cities struggle with natural population decrease. Agriculture has an increasingly smaller impact on rural sustainability. Rural tourism is one of the activities that can save villages. The aim of this study is to, using a comparative analysis of the attitudes of the citizens of the two aforementioned countries, determine their familiarity with rural tourism and available development support funds, their interest in engaging in rural tourism as an additional or primary activity, and their satisfaction with the involvement of the local community in providing education for rural tourism. To obtain a response, we carried out interviews with 12 respondents from RS and 12 from BiH. The research instrument was the semi-structured in-depth interview. The respondents from BiH are more determined and more engaged in rural tourism than in RS. They are aware of how important rural tourism is for villages, since that is their only option for recovery and sustainability. The respondents from both countries agree that they need the support of the local administration to develop rural tourism. This kind of tourism also requires the demographic improvement of villages, since, without human resources, it is more difficult for the majority of the older population to engage more intensely in rural tourism.

Suggested Citation

  • Milka Bubalo Živković & Bojan Đerčan & Predrag Mlinarević & Marija Cimbaljević & Zorica Pogrmić & Tamara Lukić & Bojana Kalenjuk Pivarski & Goran Balotić & Dejan Pljuco & Milan Lalić & Nikola Lopatić, 2025. "Rural Tourism as a Factor of Rural Revitalization and Sustainability in the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-24, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:11:p:5127-:d:1670961
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