Tourism as a Factor of Rural Areas Development

Abstract

Advantages  and disadvantages  of tourism  as  a factor  of rural areas  development, issues related to the introduction and evolution of tourism in rural areas, and their likely negative impacts upon local features are studied. A new theoterical conception of local develoment  with  an opportunity  approcah  was  an initial  step suggesting  the need  of identifying,  assessing,  and choosing  the best options for a territory development.  It is apparent  that  local  governments  must  decide  the  implementation  of  the  opportunity (tourism among them) that promotes local development  based on the knowledge of its impacts  upon  territorial  features.  Deciding  rural  areas  development  through  tourism implies using quantitative models to choose the optimal decision.