Abstract

The focus of this research proposal is the determination of the opportunities for, and barriers to, advocating tourism as an agent of rural diversification and development in a range of European Union countries and accession states. It will determine the role, attitudes and perceptions of visitor groups, entrepreneurs and institutions to the development of rural tourism in two specified CEE states. A determination of the barriers experienced by entrepreneurs in four different EU countries, combined with an analysis of the perceptions of a range of potential visitors, will provide the basis of an in-depth analysis of the current situation in the CEE partner countries. It will also allow for the development of rural development strategies for selected CEE rural locations. Objectives To undertake an integrated review of the range of approaches to the development of rural tourism in selected EU and CEE states. To identify perceived opportunities and actual barriers to the development of rural tourism. Based upon an analysis of these findings, to formulate approaches which enable tourism developments to be integrated into general regional development strategies focusing in particular upon the situation of the 'new democracies' of the Accession states with specific reference to Bulgaria and Romania. Therefore, the research sought to evaluate: a) The motivations, perceptions and images of the rural tourism offer available in their own country and of that available in Bulgaria and Romania by potential visitors from four (England, Germany, Portugal, Spain) EU generating countries and those of the domestic populations of Bulgaria and Romania. b) The opportunities and barriers (fiscal, environmental, social, institutional) experienced by tourism entrepreneurs in all the participating countries in establishing and operating their businesses. c) The strategies proposed by appropriate institutions and agencies (governmental and non-governmental) for facilitating rural tourism development in each country. d) he response of the tourism entrepreneurs and their associations to the perceptions and demands of potential visitors from EU countries and from their own country. e) The response of Bulgarian and Romanian tourism entrepreneurs to both their own country's rural tourism development strategies and to those strategies advanced in differing EU states. f) The response of Bulgarian and Romanian country institutions to the analysis by their own country's entrepreneurs of existing strategies and their response to the strategies advanced in differing EU states. g) Based upon an analysis of these interdependent evaluations the development of potential strategies for and approaches to the development of a viable rural tourism in Bulgaria and Romania. Results A series of six country-specific reports reviewing the perceptions and attitudes towards both the domestic rural tourism offer and that of Bulgaria and Romania. Two series of country-specific reports; one identifying the experiences, perceptions and attitudes of entrepreneurs; and the other the identifying the experiences, perceptions and attitudes of facilitators regarding the development of rural tourism. Proposed strategies for developing rural tourism in Bulgaria and Romania developed to address the opportunities and barriers identified from the review of attitudes, perceptions and experiences of potential visitors, entrepreneurs and facilitators. One national and four regional workshops in both Bulgaria and Romania.