Valorization of the factors for development of rural tourism in the municipality of Debarca, the Republic of Macedonia

This paper explores the application of activities based on segmentation and valorization of factors for the development of several alternative forms of tourism in rural areas. Segmentation is based on the assumption that different types of natural and anthropogenic motifs can attract various types of tourists in the rural area of the Municipality of Debarca in the Republic of Macedonia. Through a number of parameters we value the space for tourism activities which make the basis for identification of direct market segments of many tourism types (cultural, rural, religious, mountain, hunting, etc.) designed for three target customer groups (young, family, adult). The validity of these segments is confirmed by field research (survey and interview) and qualitative - quantitative analysis. Each segment showed different characteristics of how to streamline marketing activities in the direction of development of rural tourism in the rural Municipality of Debarca