ABSTRACT
This chapter describes and analyses the Israeli experience in supporting rural regions in the transition from an agricultural base to one grounded in small tourism enterprise development. This is part of the national strategy to support rural peripheral areas. The chapter shows that the support schemes were designed specifically to the needs of the farmers to make the needed adjustments. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development which includes most industrialized countries recognized in the Report on the Future of the Countryside, the fact that employment opportunities in rural areas are declining in primary and secondary sectors. Obtaining finance for tourism and hospitality projects can be difficult, especially in rural areas due to the absence of wealthy residents, inadequate infrastructure, availability of capital, and other reasons. That is why in many countries capital incentives have been applied exclusively to rural areas and tourism has been frequently a major recipient.
