Perspectives of rural tourism in the middle Lithuania region

Abstract

Accomplishing this task the analysis of rural tourism homesteads located in Kaunas, Kėdainiai and Raseiniai municipalities was carried using the cartographic material and general plans of these territories. In total, 46 rural tourism homesteads were analyzed and the following factors affecting the distribution of homesteads were investigated: protected areas, natural and landscape objects, settlements and transport infrastructure. According to the analysis data, 7 rural tourism homesteads are located within the boundaries of protected territories and 9 more are not more than 0.1 – 0.5 km away from the boundaries. It is assumed that small number of homesteads in protected areas can be a result of more strict requirements and land use regulations for economic activities and constructions. Natural elements of the landscape, such as rivers, lakes and ponds, are also very important for rural tourism. 26 farmsteads are located near all large water bodies (from 0.1 to 1.3 km). Artificial water bodies like ponds are created in homesteads, which are not close to the rivers or lakes... Favorable conditions have emerged for the changes of rural development policy and promotion of new approaches after accession of Lithuania to the European Union. One of the areas supported by the Rural development program is the development of rural tourism. Research object is Middle Lithuania region. It was chosen due to nice landscape, good natural conditions for rural tourism development and authentic ethnic environment. The development of rural tourism homesteads are determined by various factors: both natural (forests, water bodies, diversity of nature) [1,2], and human created factors (quality of services, sports and entertainment offer, ethnic environment) [3]. There were 661 rural tourism homesteads in Lithuania in 2016 and since 2013 this number gradually increased by 41 (6.6%). There were 149 rural tourism homesteads in the Middle Lithuania region in 2016 which is 22.5 % from the total number in Lithuania. The goal of the research is to analyze the current state of rural tourism and its development opportunities in the Middle Lithuania region.