EXISTING AND POTENTIAL SITES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TOURISM IN THE POLOG REGION

Zejnedije ADEMI, Nikola PANOV, Hazir POLLOZHANI, Alirami SALIJI, Merime MUSTAFI, Rukije IBRAIMI

Abstract

The region of Polog with its natural, social, and economic features offers the growth and development of rural tourist sites. Rural tourism has great potential because 2/3 of the total area in the region is rural areas. The paper focuses on the presentation of existing rural tourism sites in the region with all its qualitative geographical features and potential sites for rural tourism development. In this paper, several interrelated methods are used: analysis and synthesis methods, evaluation methods, information methods, cartographic methods, and field research methods. With the valorization of natural and anthropogenic tourist resources, the proper development of rural tourism can be achieved in all tourist localities in the region of Polog. From the knowledge and results obtained, it is concluded that the region of Polog has considerable potential for the development of rural tourism in existing and potential rural tourism sites. Rural tourism represents a strategic option for the social and economic development of the rural area in the Polog region.

Pages: 198 - 205