Perceptions of rural tourism development potential in south-eastern Bosnia.

About 61% of the Bosnian population lives in rural areas. Meanwhile almost 95% of the Republika Srpska entity’s territory is rural where 83% of the population lives. Rural tourism includes tourism products and services in rural areas in which the rural culture is a key component. The paper aims at analyzing the perceptions of villagers, service providers and rural tourism structures managers on rural tourism development potential in south-eastern Bosnia. Suggestions of local actors to attract more tourists to rural areas were discussed as well. The paper includes both secondary and primary data. A questionnaire survey was performed in summer 2012 with 120 rural tourism operators, service providers and villagers in 11 municipalities in the Republika Srpska (RS). Bosnia in general and the RS in particular have great potential for rural tourism development but it remains largely unexpressed. Rural tourism can provide new windows of opportunities for rural areas. Rural tourism is perceived by local actors as sustaining and creating local incomes, employment and growth; contributing to the costs of providing local economic and social infrastructure, amenities and services; encouraging the other sectors development; and contributing to environmental and cultural heritage conservation. Rural communities have increasingly turned to tourism as an alternative means of achieving sustainable economic growth and development through restructuring and greater diversification of economic activity. Rural tourism operators’ individual satisfaction is gained from interchange with visitors. Tourist feedback positively enhances locally exerted effects and stimulates operators to recognize local opportunities and potential within their rural communities. In order to transform local stakeholders’ enthusiasm into concrete and viable investments and ventures, the financial and institutional support of the entity government, especially ministries of tourism and agriculture, as well as international donors is highly needed.