Rural Development in a Function of Local Economic Development: Case Study of Municipality of Krushevo

Abstract

The local economic development is a process in which the local authorities and partners from the business sector and the non-governmental sector work together to improve the business climate. Through positive financial results conditions for economic growth are created and the employment opportunities are increased. Most of the municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia are still at an early stage of development of the idea of local economic development, due to fact that the preparation of the municipal strategies and action plans are the only activities carried out in this direction so far. The National Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development for the period 2009-2013 stresses tourism and agriculture as priority areas for development of the country and analyzes the situation and the range of responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. Parallel, the national programs facilitating agriculture and rural development in Macedonia in favor of global trends for creation of sustainability in rural regions through the development of agriculture and additional activities for families living or returning to rural areas (villages). The rural development through the few authentic examples in Macedonia already shows the first interest although the contours of the branch are not defined yet. The rural development is able to a greater extent to meet the needs of the modern man that the urban environment is not able to satisfy. To clarify what can be these unmet needs and to answer the question of interest due to demand for this type of tourism, it is necessary to analyze contained rural tourism.