Agrotourism as an Incentive for the Development of Rural Areas

Abstract

One of the most important strategic goals of the state policy is to create conditions for sustainable development of rural areas, the preservation of existing rural settlements in all the variety of existing forms of rural settlement. The development of tourism infrastructure in rural areas and, in particular, agro-tourism can become one of the factors contributing to the diversification of the rural economy, increasing employment and incomes of the rural population; the development of small businesses, including in alternative areas of employment, and consequently, improving the quality of life in rural areas.

In the Federal target program "Development of domestic and inbound tourism in the Russian Federation for 2011 - 2018" "rural tourism" is called a new promising direction. In the Order of the government of November 30, 2010 N 2136-p "About the Concept of sustainable development of rural territories of the Russian Federation for the period till 2020" agrotourism is treated as one of the most important directions in the decision of employment of rural population and the perspective direction in development of the village.

The article deals with foreign and domestic experience in the organization of this type of activity. The potential and real opportunities of agrotourism development in Russia are analyzed.