OPPORTUNITIES FOR STARTING ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY IN RURAL AREAS IN MUNICIPALITY OF GEVGELIJA

Abstract

Global and modern economic trends are driving businesses to continually discover new opportunities for economic growth and maximize the utilization of resources. In this regard, tourism is an area with the potential to stimulate economic development which has a major role in creating business activities, starting entrepreneurial activity and achieving business results. The new concept of tourism as a carrier of economic development reaffirms the concept of rural tourism as a significant economic potential. The need’s of modern tourists related with the temporary leaving of the opportunities by urban areas initiates the development of rural tourism. In another side rural tourism encourages the development of rural areas and utilization the possibilities of interaction between the local population and tourists.The subject of the research in this paper is to understand the importance and impact of the entrepreneurial initiative in the development of rural tourism on the Municipality of Gevgelija.The theoretical part in this paper gives an overview of the definition and characteristics of rural tourism and geographical description of the rural areas located on the territory of the Municipality of Gevgelija. In addition, were analyzed the opportunities of this region for starting entrepreneurial activity in the field of rural tourism or entrepreneurship in rural areas. Entrepreneurship in the rural areas is perceived by expressing interest in starting entrepreneurial activity, exploiting the opportunities and entrepreneurial skills of the local population, thereby improving the quality of life of the local population and rural areas.Municipality of Gevgelija have great potential for development of rural tourism, by utilizing the natural location and combining different ways in creating tourist offer. Natural beauties, clean environment, manifestations, traditional food, hospitality and local resources are prerequisites for harnessing the potential of this region. Encouraging the local population to start an entrepreneurial activity is a prerequisite for the development of rural tourism. The entrepreneurial concept of the behavior of individuals and businesses initiates the development and creation of an appropriate tourism offer according to the needs of tourists. The analysis and research will confirm the basic hypothesis that the entrepreneurial initiative and rural entrepreneurs are the engines of the development of rural tourism, thus concluding this paper will provide recommendations for exploiting opportunities and encouraging local businesses to start up the business.