Tourist family farms in function of development of tourist destination Eastern Croatia

Athough area of Eastern Croatia is rich in various attractive natural resources, valuable cultural and historic heritage, present level of tourism development is underdeveloped comparing to the tourism development of other Croatian regions. This paper analysis possibility of tourism development in the region of Eastern Croatia through the development of tourist family farms in the region. Further, this paper provides an overview of present situation in tourist family farms, critical analysis of the current development stage and analysis of potentials of future development of tourist family farms. Rural farms are insufficienty valorised as potential of tourist development of rural areas despite the comparative advantages of rural areas such as location, natural resources, local populatin and tradition. Initial hypothesis of the paper is: Tourism in Eastern Croatia can be founded and successfully developed on development of tourist family farms and can significantly contribute to the overall development of the region. The paper presents author’s cognition that tourism development at rural family farms can be a segment of recognition of Eastern Croatia as a tourist destination through the development of tourist supply at family farms. Purpose of the paper is to determinate level of perception of Eastern Croatia as a tourist destination of tourist family farms. Methodology applied in this paper is desk research where all relevant domestic and foreign expert and scientific literature about the research theme has been studied. The results of the research have been interpreted by using methods of comparative analysis, economic analysis and descriptive methods.Primary research method is also applied through the survey in regional centers of the Republic of Croatia. Survey refers to the development possibilities of eastern Croatia as recognized tourist destination of tourist family farms in the Republic of Croatia.