Lietuviška versija

Lithuanian Regional Research Institute
Donelaicio 60, LT-3000 Kaunas,
Lithuania
Tel./fax: (370 7) 423251, 423725 
e-mail: lrti@lrti.lt

Lithuanian Regional Research Institute

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE 
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT - 2002 

RURAL TOURISM IN THE SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Jūratė Matekonienė, Laura Navackaitė, Jurgita Dumbauskaitė
Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuanian Regional Research Institute

SUMMARY

The emphasis in rural policies has shifted away from "more food at low cost" to a wider concern with the well-being of the people, the economy and the environment of rural areas. The role of farmers is changing in many regions. They may still have importance as producers of food: but they are also perceived as entrepreneurs in other fields, producers of resources to which value can be added in the local economy, providers of space for recreation or leisure activity, guardians and maintainers of the natural and cultural heritage. Rural development must be sustainable, it is integrated and changing process, it improves the life of the local population. Sustainability is not simply a matter of respect for the environment. It relates to all four of the "legs" or "pillars" of rural development - people, economy, environment and institutions.

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