Abstract:

The paper deals with the characteristics of Dalmatia's rural tourism supply based on the registered rural-tourist farms listed in the National Catalog of Rural Tourism of Croatia. The aim of this paper is to determine the present state and potential of Dalmatia in the development of rural tourism. Moreover, the intetion is to point out the unexploited possibilities of the area by comparing the four Dalmatian tourist regions: Dalmacija – Zadar, Dalmacija – Šibenik, Dalmacija – Split, Dalmacija – Dubrovnik. The research results indicate that all the explored regions are rich in natural and cultural heritage, which are crucial for the development of rural tourism. There are differences in the number of registered facilities for rural tourism and the services offered. This is seen as an opportunity for launching investment projects and programs with the goal of preserving and developing those rural areas.

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