THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL NATURE OF AGROTOURISM FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Verezubova N., Yakovleva O., Mindlin Y.

Rural tourism has become a fashionable trend in recent years, gaining increasing popularity in the Russian leisure industry. Numerous areas included in the concept of rural tourism are increasingly attracting even people far from the rural lifestyle, allowing them to get acquainted not only with the cultural and historical heritage of a large country, but also with the peculiarities of the rural lifestyle. One of the directions is agrotourism, which provides an opportunity to participate in agricultural work, try and purchase natural products and even learn crafts typical for this region. This creates a unique experience that cannot be experienced in the city. As part of the development of environmental initiatives, another area of rural tourism, ecotourism, also has its niche in the tourism business. Many regions offer environmentally friendly products and services, which corresponds to modern trends in sustainable development. It also opens up new opportunities to attract foreign tourists interested in authentic experiences and ecotourism. In recent years, more and more rural producers have been exploring the possibilities of agrotourism and ecotourism to develop their own business, including as an additional sales channel for their products. It is obvious that the multidimensional nature of rural tourism is already acting as a catalyst for the socio-economic development of rural areas.

Keywords:rural tourism, agrotourism, ecotourism, development of the agricultural sector and rural areas