Evaluation of sustainable rural tourism potential in Brcko district of Bosnia and Herzegovina using multi-criteria analysis

Abstract

For investment decisions to be made in tourism sector, it is necessary to determine tourism potential on the first place. Tourism potential is the ability of a particular location to attract and host tourists. Tourism development should be based on strengthening sustainability, and thus tourism will provide good effects. Since rural settlements have experienced recession in the past few decades, these areas need to be revitalized. This can be achieved through development of rural tourism. Sustainability of rural tourism potential in Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina is in focus of this study. Based on sustainability criteria, we assessed the rural potential in Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina for certain rural settlements. Assessment of the sustainability of rural tourism potential in Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina was carried out with expert evaluation and used methods of FUCOM, ARAS and CRITIC, and a decision model will be created for this purpose. The findings from this study will provide guidelines for improvement of rural tourism in Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina through examination of good and bad sides of the examined rural settlements. The model with certain corrections can also be used in determining sustainable tourism potential in other branches of tourism.

Keywords

• rural tourism, sustainable tourism, tourism potential, multi-criteria analysis, Brcko District Bosnia and Herzegovina