ABSTRACT
The fundamental motivation for research into the integration of forest recreation and nature tourism into the rural economy arises from two main challenges: the changes in the contribution made by agricultural and forestry production to the economy, which are felt in many European countries and the European Union policies that are supposed to address them. Currently, 44 per cent of the European Union budget is directed towards agriculture. The system of agriculture subsidies and programmes is called the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Reforms of the CAP are currently underway and will be reported on in 2008. CAP is divided into the two pillars of production support and rural development. In the future (the assumption is from the year 2013) more subsidies will be spent on rural development compared to agricultural production. It is intended that funds for rural development will support the economic and environmental functions of the countryside by focusing on innovation, quality of life, development of new sectors and responsible land management. They will also seek to respond to consumer demands, for example for improved access to the countryside. The tourism sector can take advantage of this policy change. In this respect forest policy is an integral part of rural development. To be sustainable, its growth has to be managed with a high awareness of the need to protect nature, landscapes and communities upon which the industry depends. It is important that policy makers, land managers and enterprises address this challenge to develop sustainable management which balances the economic benefits alongside the environmental and social impacts of tourism.
