Evaluation Of Entrepreneurial Projects For The Purpose Of Sustainable Tourism Development Of Eastern Croatia

The subject matter of this research is connected with economic evaluation of entrepreneurial projects of special interest tourism in Eastern Croatia. The basic characteristics of special interest tourism (SIT) developed in tourist destinations are derived from special interests and needs of tourists for culture, religion, health, sport and physical recreation, hunting, fishing, ecology, wine, gastronomy, etc. It is precisely these varieties that are the potentials of Eastern Croatia, and they can be evaluated through various entrepreneurial projects of rural tourism. The experience of the neighbouring countries, e.g. Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, etc., has shown that similar regions have developed a wide offer of special interest tourism that generates significant economic effects. Eastern Croatia is at the very beginning of developing such offer, and at the moment the modest economic effects amount to 1% of the total turnover in tourism in the Republic of Croatia. The accession of Croatia to the European Union opened new market opportunities both as regards the foreign tourism demand and in terms of financing new investment projects. To attract new investments and means from structural and other funds of the European Union, as well as from other sources, entrepreneurial projects are necessary that will optimally evaluate ecological, socio-cultural and economic factors of development. The aim of this paper is to research into and to economically evaluate the selected entrepreneurial projects of special interest tourism types for the purpose of sustainable development of tourism in Eastern Croatia. The basic hypothesis of this research is that SIT types may be successfully developed as entrepreneurial projects only if they are ecologically, but also economically sustainable in a destination on a long-term basis. The pilot research results have been used to serve to test the set hypothesis. The survey was done on the sample of tourism experts. Entrepreneurial projects can be sustainable on a longterm basis provided that the basic prerequisites be realized – the structure and the range of domestic and foreign tourism demand, favourable sources of financing, quality and competitive tourism offer, a wide range of autochthonous products and services provided by quality personnel, etc. These are elements necessary for economic evaluation of entrepreneurial projects that need to be analysed and identified before investments are made for each prospective projects. Economic evaluation of entrepreneurial projects has showen their economic profitability, which is a prerequisite of their long-term sustainable development. To realize the set aim of the research, desk research has been made, descriptive statistics has been calculated and the methods for the evaluation of entrepreneurial projects’ profitability has been applied.