engleski

Rural tourism in the South-West part of the Republic of Croatia as a keeper of traditional values and aesthetic specificity of rural properties

The paper analyses the existing situation as well as offer of rural tourism in the territory of the Međimurje County, and points out how some estates have focused on preserving the existing rural tradition with the aim of developing small entrepreneurship. The aim and task of this paper is to examine the quality of rural tourism in the Međimurje County, the location of facilities/estates of rural tourism and wine roads within the County, and other rural tourism offer in the Međimurje County. The paper will, at the same time, examine whether there are any difficulties regarding acts and regulations which could obstruct prosperity and development of rural tourism in the County, and what regulations of law are effective when it comes to the registration of facillities/estates. The intention of this paper is to examine and make conclusions about the way in which rural tourism influences and preserves a relatively well organized area of the Međimurje County. It is believed that the neighbouring Slovenia had a positive impact on the development of rural tourism in Međimurje, as had the ideas and experience of emigrants who have returned from Austria, Switzerland and Germany, where this type of tourism became popular many years ago. Specific rural estates, presentation of tradition by means of folk customs and old crafts, production of traditional products and the fact that environment protection level is very high, as well as declaring the Mura river a protected area, are all additional incentives to individuals, but to the County as well, for such a form of investment and entrepreneurship. At the same time, the article points out that some Međimurje estates are focused on the preservation of tangible culture and rural tradition. The notion of tangible culture embraces all material goods which are present in human environment, while the notion of rural tradition refers to the existing tradition of rural areas as well as outskirts. The aim of the article is to detect the role of rural tourism in preserving and developing social events as well as in preserving aesthetic appearance of the existing architecture in the Međimurje County. For the first time, the research will try to focus on the whole geographical area as on the existing tangible, traditional and aesthetic goods with the aim of their advancement but also promotion of the existing rural tourism offer. Hypotheses and research questions have the following aims and objectives: to detect the location of the existing rural tourism estates within the geographical area of the Međimurje County, aesthetic impact of the architecture on the social development, and tangible culture as the basis of the existing rural tradition of the Međimurje area. Preserving and investing in specific rural estates, presentation of tangible culture and tradition by way of folk customs and crafts, production of traditional products as well as the high level of environmental protection with river Mura protected area, are additional incentives for individuals but also for the County for this kind of investment.

angible culture; rural tourism; the Međimurje County; rural tourism architecture; wine roads; folk customs and crafts

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