Rural tourism in revitalization of the rural area of Sisak-Moslavina County

Ruralni turizam, posebice u razvijenim zemljama, bilježi rast. On uključuje sve turističke aktivnosti i oblike turizma u ruralnom prostoru kao što su lovni, agroturizam, ekoturizam, vjerski, avanturistički i sl. Sisačko-moslavačka županija smještena je u južnom dijelu središnje Hrvatske i prema urbano-ruralnoj klasifikaciji je pretežno ruralno područje. Područje Županije bogato je prirodnim ljepotama, povijesnom i kulturnom baštinom, što pogoduje razvoju ruralnog turizma koji do danas nije prepoznat kao prilika. Ciljevi rada bili su ustanoviti mišljenja i stavove (1) lokalne Turističke zajednice te menadžmenta Parka prirode Lonjsko polje o ruralnom turizmu Županije kao i (2) posjetitelja agroturističkih gospodarstava o ponudi agroturističkih usluga na području Županije. Voditelji turističkih zajednica Petrinje i Siska ističu slabu razvijenost agroturizma na području oba grada. Park prirode Lonjsko polje organizira edukativne radionice za posjetitelje agroturističkih gospodarstava. Turistima je najvažnija ljubaznost domaćina, očuvana priroda, lijepo uređena okućnica. Turisti uočavaju lošu lokalnu povezanost i nemogućnost kupnje autohtonih proizvoda.Rural tourism, especially in developed countries, is on the rise. It includes all tourist activities and forms of tourism in rural areas such as hunting, agritourism, ecotourism, religious activities, adventure, etc. Sisak-Moslavina County is in the southern part of central Croatia and, according to the urban-rural classification, is a predominantly rural area. The area of the County is rich in natural beauty, as well as historical and cultural heritage, which is conducive to the development of rural tourism, which has not been recognized as an opportunity to date. The goals of the paper were to determine opinions and attitudes of (1) the local tourist board and the management of the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park about rural tourism of the County, as well as (2) visitors to agrotourism farms about the offer of agrotourism services in the County. The leaders of the tourist boards of Petrinja and Sisak point out the poor development of agritourism in both cities. Lonjsko Polje Nature Park organizes educational workshops for visitors to farms. For the tourist, the most important features of agrotourism are kindness of the hosts, preserved nature, beautifully landscaped gardens. As a downside, tourists perceive poor local connectivity and inability to buy indigenous products