R58 - Regional Development Planning and PolicyReturn

This paper deals with a set of problems related to tourism policy implementation. It emphasises the importance of stakeholder involvement in implementation of tourism policy in tourism destinations. The research is focused on evaluation of tourism policy strategic priorities from the point of view of destination stakeholders in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. Its objective is to identify key regional stakeholders in the tourism sector and describe their attitudes to co-operation with the South Bohemian Tourism Authority (SBTA) on implementation of the priorities which are described in the tourism development plan. The research uses three-step stakeholder analysis that is based on a three-attribute methodology, and a mix of qualitative and quantitative data gathering techniques. The findings are transformed into a comprehensive graphical output designated for the SBTA and a resulting set of managerial recommendations for better stakeholder involvement in the process of tourism development in the South Bohemian Region. The recommendations point both at involvement of various stakeholder groups by building the relationships between them and the SBTA based on more intensive communication and exchange of information and experience, and engagement of primary stakeholders as intermediaries in a newly established stakeholder network.

This paper presents an analysis of the available options for an effective EU rural development policy. A classification of the methods used to determine an optimal rural development policy can be viewed as the specific aim of the paper. This aim is achieved by discussing theoretical-methodological approaches to rural development, an analysis of the current situation in EU rural areas, including appropriate economic tools, and a partial analysis of existing methods for defining the optimal status in the rural areas. The paper also stresses the main economic determinants influencing conditions in EU rural areas. The authors point out a disproportion between agricultural subsidies and their utilisation in the actual development of the rural areas. Moreover, the definition of the target group of the CAP seems to be essential. The final part of the paper discusses the most significant approaches defining the optimal status in EU rural areas together with their risks and opportunities in respect of an effective rural development policy.