ANALYSIS AND PERSPECTIVES OF TOURISM / AGROTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ISTRIA

Tourism, as an economic activity in Croatia and consequently Istria as a leader of tourism development, has been facing a number of constraints for years ranging from extrinsic ones i.e. legal to intrinsic i.e. those regarding the facilities used for tourism purposes. Despite the existing opinion of political and social structures in favour of developing tourism as a primary activity of Istrian development, there are constant operating constraints occurring locally and at the state level. In view of perennial Istrian emphasis on the development of agrotourism as a perspective form of tourist offer, authors are analysing development, advantages and disadvantages in an analytically constructive manner for the purpose of stressing those elements which need to become a part of development strategy in order to offer better quality agrotourism services in Istria and its wider area. Constraints have been detected and guidelines for a more quality agrotourism offer development provided based on research conducted in Istria Region from 2007 until today on a representative sample by using various scientific methods.