Dear all,

Welcome to the pages of the 6^th International Congress on Rural Tourism!

Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development “The Village Membership Club” and the Congress Secretariat are very pleased to host numerous scientists and experts in the area of rural tourism, who will participate in the 6^th International Congress on Rural Tourism from 10 to 13 April 2024 in the beautiful hotel Le Meridien Lav, Podstrana, Split.

The slogan of the 6^th International Congress on Rural Tourism is “Rural Tourism: Sustainable, Digital, Inclusive”.

The 6^th   International Congress on Rural Tourism will consist of eight major thematic units, as well as their subtopics: “European Rural Space: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”, “Rural Tourism: Sustainable Alternative”, “Special Forms of Rural Tourism – New Challenges and Opportunities”, “Innovation and Rural Tourism”, “New Technologies and Use of Artificial Intelligence in Rural Tourism”, ”Interest Grouping and Networking in Rural Tourism”, “Challenges of Adapting Rural Tourism to Vulnerable and Underrepresented Groups” and “Challenges of Human Resource Management”.

During the Congress, a number of panels, round tables and workshops will be held and more than 300 participants from several European countries are expected.

An unmissable part of the Congress will be a visit to the charming rural areas of Split-Dalmatia County.

One of the main conclusions reached at the last, 5th International Rural Tourism Congress held in Cavtat, was that rural tourism is a significant factor in the revival of natural resources, one that helps to preserve local identity, tradition and customs, protects the environment, supports local and ecological production of agricultural products and helps rural areas achieve sustainable development. This is why we can rightfully call it the future of global tourism.

It is important to note that the Congress Organising Committee is made up of our dear friends and long-time partners: Faculty of Economics in Zagreb, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Rijeka, Institute for Tourism and Virovitica University of Applied Sciences.

Join us in dynamic discussions and exchange of knowledge about the present and the future of rural tourism in Croatia and the region.

We look forward to seeing you in Split!

Sincerely Yours,

• Balkan Environmental Association
• Croatian Academy of Science and Arts
• Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development "The Village Membership Club"  
• Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek 
• Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Zagreb
• Faculty of Economics, Business, and Tourism Split
• Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management
• Faculty of Economics, Business, and Tourism Split
• Institute for Tourism
• Member of the European Parliament Sunčana Glavak
• Split-Dalmatia county
• Tourist Board Split - Dalmatia County
• University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
• Virovitica University of Applied Sciences