123RURAL TOURISM IN THE FUNCTION OF LIFE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT OF RURAL POPULATION ON GOC MOUNTAIN
Milena Podovac1, Natasa Dordevic2, Snezana Milicevic3 Corresponding author E-mail: milena.podovac@kg.ac.rs
ARTICLEINFO ABSTRACT
The aim of the paper is to determine the possibilities for improving rural tourism on the mountain Goc, as well as how this type of tourism can affect the quality of life of the rural population in this area. The methods used in this paper include fieldwork and cabinet research. The survey was carried out on random sample by sending a questionnaire via e-mail. The research involved 150 respondents. Mountain Goc has resources for the development of rural tourism. It is necessary to improve the quality of accommodation capacities and the quality of additional content of rural tourism. The development of rural tourism on the mountain Goc can have favorable impacts on the quality of life of the rural population.
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Introduction
Modern way of human living is characterized by a fast pace, stress, alienation, lack of time for themselves and their families, unhealthy and fast food, specific diseases and unproductiveness at work. Precisely because of this, the motives for coming to the village such as: peace, clean environment, interaction with new people (local villagers), healthy food, slow food (slow eating, enjoying the food), slower pace of life and leisure, are responsible for the development of and survival of rural tourism as a tourism oriented towards an individual customer and his needs (Benadic et al., 2016).
Rural tourism today is not the only means of revitalization of the abandoned rural areas, but it certainly is one of the major factors of the development of rural areas, which ensures their future sustainability through preservation, and opening of new job opportunities,
1 Milena Podovac, teaching assistant, University ofKragujevac, Faculty of Hotel Management and Tourism in Vrnjacka Banja, Vojvodanska 5A, 36210 Vrnjacka Banja, 036/5150024, milena.podovac@kg.ac.rs, (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0709-2927)
2 Natasa Dordevic, teaching assistant, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Hotel Management and Tourism in Vrnjacka Banja, Vojvodanska 5A, 36210 Vrnjacka Banja, 036/5150024, natasa.djordjevic@kg.ac.rs ORCID ID (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3630-6867)
3 Snezana Milicevic, associate professor, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Hotel Management and Tourism in Vrnjacka Banja, Vojvodanska 5A, 36210 Vrnjacka Banja, 036/5150024, snezana. milicevic@kg.ac.rs, ORCID ID (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1972-9585)
Review Article
Received: 28 November 2018
Accepted: 28 December 2018
doi:10.5937/ekoPolj1901205P
UDC
338.48-44(1-22):330.59(497.11 Goc) Keywords:
rural tourism, local community, mountain Goc
JEL: L83, Z32
increasing the diversity of occupations, preservation of landscape and nature as well as support to the rural crafts and tourist attractions (Maksimovic et al., 2015).
The subject of this paper is the analysis of the possibilities for rural tourism development as a factor of improving life quality of rural population on the Goc mountain. In addition to the fact that it is situated in the vicinity of one of the most visited tourist destinations in Serbia, Vrnjacka Banja, the basis for tourism development on Goc mountain are the diversity of flora and fauna, climatic predispositions and hydrographic potential. Basic research questions are whether Goc mountain has the potentials for rural tourism development and in what manner the tourism development affects the rural population in this area. Main hypothesis of this paper is: Rural tourism can contribute to the improvement of rural population's life quality on Goc mountain.
Literature review
At the beginning of the XXI century, in accordance with specific requirements of the users of tourist services, there are new forms of tourism developed, within which rural tourism occupies a significant place. Rural tourism is a form of tourism which includes all tourist activities which can take place in rural regions and which can be included in tourist offer of those regions (Njegovan et al., 2015). Rural tourism should be based in those areas which are rural in all aspects (Lane, 1994). The term „rural area" means the area whose main feature is primarily the use of land for agriculture and forestry (Prentovic et al., 2012). Rural areas have a special position as areas of excellence, as well as ecological oases which are the foundations of traditional culture and ethno-cultural heritage (Stetic, 2012).
The elements of rural regions, which are included in tourist product are based on natural values, as well as anthropogenic resources and infrastructure in general (Milicevic, Podovac, 2012). According to Garrod (2006), constituent elements of countryside capital are: Landscape, Wildlife (both fauna and flora), Biodiversity, Geology and soils, Air and air quality, Hedgerows and field boundaries, Agricultural buildings, Rural settlements, Historical features, Streams, rivers, ponds and lakes, Water and water quality, Woods, forests and plantations, Distinctive local customs, languages, costumes, foods, crafts, festivals, traditions, ways of life. Rural tourism is complex and is divided to several segments: natural, rural environment (rivers, lakes, forest), rural cultural and spiritual things (architecture, churches and monasteries), ethno tourism (traditional food, music, customs) and rural activities such as horseback riding, fishing, hunting (Molera, Albaladejo, 2007).
The authors represent different views when it comes to activities that make rural tourism product (Milicevic et al., 2015). Rural tourism encompasses a variety of tourists activities including direct participation in agricultural activities (e.g. harvesting berries), indirect enjoyment of farm activities (e.g. enjoying meals on site), recreational activities (e.g. ride a bicycle) and activities in which the farm premises only serves as the landscape (e.g. wedding in a vineyard), as well as a variety of on-farm accommodations services and food services (Barbieri, 2013; Phillip et al., 2010; McGehee, Kim, 2004).
Most studies stress the value of various economic, sociocultural and environmental benefits of rural tourism that, although primarily concern the farm household, also extend to surrounding communities (Barbieri, 2013). Rural tourism is a significant factor of recovery and development of rural areas and a significant generator of the income for rural households (Milicevic et al., 2015), i.e. a significant factor of revitalization and diversification of rural economy (Saarinen, Lenao, 2014). Economic effects of rural tourism development in rural areas primarily reflect themselves through the possibility of employment of rural population, and consequently the growth of their life standard (Mitchell, Hall, 2005). Rural tourism provides additional income to people in rural areas through the placement of agricultural products in the market in their own yards, as well as placement of the handicraft products. Rural tourism provides valorization of women's work in rural households, as well as employment of labour-inactive categories of people (Njegovan et al., 2015). Furthermore, revitalized local economies foster youth retention in rural communities who work in either agriculture or other local businesses (Sharpley, 2002).
Tourism contributes to meeting different cultures, lifestyles, and consequently better understanding of different people. The socio-cultural effects of rural tourism are reflected through interactions among urban dwellers, rural villagers and the rural areas, but above all through the revitalization of local crafts, customs and cultural identities (Kosic et al., 2015), ie preservation of local cultural heritage. An increased interest in heritage can be satisfied through rural tourism as rural areas are often the repositories of remnant heritage (Irshad, 2010). Traditional festivals, events and folklore can also be an important part of tourist offer of rural areas (Grossman, 2013). Ecological effects of rural tourism reflect themselves in improvement of the quality of rural environment, as well as protection of the nature beauty and eco-system (Liu, 2002). Rural areas are perceived as healthier, offering fresher air, cleaner water and the opportunity for outdoor recreation. Rural areas offer fresh foods (Irshad, 2010).
Rural tourism and local community - Examples of good practice
In practice, there are numerous examples of rural areas, where material position of population is improved by the development of rural tourism. In the Cluj County in Romania, to help development of the rural tourism, there is cooperation with local producers (suppliers). These local producers provide the touristic units with meat and dairy products, forest fruits and mushrooms, lavender, strawberry, honey, wine, oil, traditional fabrics (cloths - hats, fur coats; carpets; wood carvings) or equestrian services. In most cases, tourists are allowed to visit households of local producers, having the opportunity to see traditional production methods and to find out the story which lies behind the technique. Also, in this area there is a cooperation between similar units. For example, in the village Máriel accommodation unit is cooperating with another guesthouse in organizing events, sharing tourists and marketing activities. In the village Sancraiu over 40 small accommodation units are organized in a rural tourism network. The whole activity is coordinated by a travel agent, who creates the
tourist packages, brings the tourists, organizes the activities and promote the village as a tourist destination, sharing all the costs with the network members. These 40 small touristic units in the village Sancraiu compete on the global touristic market by co-operating locally. They attend national and international tourism fairs, promoting Sancraiu as a tourism destination and inviting tourists to spend their holidays in one of the most natural traditional regions in Europe (Toader et al., 2013).
Acording to the Jaszczak and Zukovskis (2010) research about tourism business of European rural areas, the income from tourism in agritourism farm in Finland and Poland is additional for the family running the farm, but it is often higher than the income from husbandry. As they noticed rural tourism and agritourism in countries they analised - Finland, Italy and Poland, are related to the development of the whole farm offering the services as well as with the economical and social development of rural areas. The livelihood of country people and stopping their migration to cities have become important factors determining this development. Activating the society, cultivating traditions and customs as well as environmental protection have been decisive in the success of the planned touristic enterprises. Also the development of touristic products for the whole region has been of great importance.
The idea of developing rural tourism can encourage local people to innovate. Good example for this is ethno village "Latkovac" in Serbia. A hamlet in which there is a cultural-tourist center "Latkovac" situated, which is over 200 years old. At this place, two centuries ago, there was a center of the parish at the time, while in the oldest house in the village, there was a court house. The owners of the facility in this hamlet have decided to direct the function of these old objects towards tourism. The offer of this ethno village is diverse and innovative and based on a great number of activities (concerts, festivals, shows, interactive workshops), and tourists are offered a stay in nature with a possibility to walk along marked hiking trails, sports and recreation activities, hunting, picking forest fruits and herbs; there is a possibility of learning some of the foreign languages, taking part in art workshops (painting, pottery, caligraphy, etc), or educational camps on the subject of ecology and ethnology, performance of daily tasks in the village and the like (Simic, 2015). In the research about forecasts of the rural tourism development in Kosjeric and Gornji Milanovac municipalities the autors states that the economic effects of rural tourism are really high, because the hosts realize revenue from the sale of local products, as well as other service providers (the multiplicative effect) (Pavlovic, Bordevic, 2013).
Resources of the mountain Goc in the function of rural tourism development
Although the structure of resources is compatible to the concept of rural tourism development, this form of tourism still hasn't reached the appropriate level so that the region of Goc mountain could become a rural destination. Goc mountain is geographically positioned south from West Morava river in the vicinity of Vrnjacka Banja at the elevation ranging from 300 m to 1.154 m (available at: www.vrnjackabanja.co.rs). It highest peak is Krnja jela, which is at elevation of 1.127 m (Kostic, Petrovic, 2013). In addition to being
in the vicinity of the leading spa destination in Serbia, comparative advantage of Goc mountain is reflected in its natural predispositions. Ecologically preserved environment, which is specific for extreme woodiness, natural landscapes and diverse flora and fauna, are the characteristics that classify Goc mountain as one of the destinations that are still insufficiently explored and involved in tourist flows. Therefore, the existing resources are a significant precondition of a rural tourism development on Goc mountain in order to achieve a more intensive tourism inclusion of rural population.
Natural characteristics of Goc mountain have, to a greater extent, determined its further development in order to encourage agricultural production, but with an insufficient inclusion of tourism as an activity which can contribute to a better material position of the population. The region of Goc mountain is characterized by moderate continental climate. Due to the existence of a great number of woody and hilly areas, there are no sudden alterations of temperature (Sustainable Tourism Development Program on the Mountain Goc, 2018). The diversity of flora and fauna is reflected in the existence of 650 plant species, among which over 200 are medicinal and aromatic herbs. For the development of rural tourism, it is significant that Goc mountain region mainly consists of woods, grasslands, meadows as well as plowed lands, orchards and gardens, which can be used for growing a large number of agricultural products. Hydrographic potential of Goc mountain is based on streams and streamlets, which flow towards West Morava on the north and Rasina on the south. Hydrogeographic network also includes artificial accumulation lake Seliste, which includes the space of about 8 ha (Milicevic, Bordevic, 2015). Of all the other hydrographic resources, the significant are Vrnjacka river, Novoselska river, Zagrza as the left tributary of Rasina with the basin of 23 km2 etc. (Sustainable Tourism Development Program on the Mountain Goc, 2018).
In the forest area of Goc mountain there are different game species, which makes hunting one of the potentially significant activities for the tourists (Podovac, Milicevic, 2013). In the region of Goc mountain there are the following game species: deer, wild boar, marten, rabbit, wolf, fox, etc. In addition to a great number of game species, animal world includes 317 insect types, among which 57 species are rare and endangered species at national and international level. There were recorded 129 types of birds with the presence of many species which are of international significance. Among 27 types of mammals, the highest value has the otter, which is protected by law as natural rarity (Sustainable Tourism Development Program on the Mountain Goc, 2018).
One of the aggravating circumstances in rural tourism development is certainly the unfavourable demographic structure of population. According to the census from 2011, on Goc mountain there exists 32 households, among which the greatest number of households include one or two members (available at: http://popis2011.stat.rs/). The villages Goc and Stanisinci are particularly attractive for the development of rural tourism and a small number of people live in them even though there exists basic infrastructure required for functioning of rural environment (Milicevic, Bordevic, 2015).
Material base for development of rural tourism of Goc mountain is not sufficiently developed. The existing offer of accommodation on Goc mountain is extremely modest. Accommodation offer of Goc mountain includes guest houses („Kacunak", „Goc", „Gocka kuca"), mountain houses („Goc", „Pecic", „Radulovic"), apartments („Horizont", „Velja", Burovski", „Nikola i Barbara") and villas ("Slavica"). On Goc mountain, there is also a children's resort „Dobre vode", which is next to ski slope. Next to children's resort, there also is a private accommodation in a form of two ethnic wooden cottages („Goc", „Metikosi") (available at: https://www.goc.rs/smestaj/).
Crucial tourist products of Goc mountain are: winter tourism, sports and recreation, excursion, hunting and fishing (Podovac, Milicevic, 2013). Development of winter tourism is based on the existence of a cable car and a ski slope, at the distance of 10 km from Vrnjacka Banja. The foothill of ski slope is at the elevation of 1.123 m. Sports and recreation tourism is developed due to the existence of the playing grounds for different sports activities. Goc mountain disposes with the potentials for a more intensive development of hunting and fishing. Two settled hunting grounds are the carriers of hunting tourism development. Hunting ground „Vrnjacka reka" occupies the surface of 13.775 ha from Goc to Morava with the reservation surface of 2.900 ha. In its territory, which is 95% in private ownership, there are different game species such as wild boar, rabbit, squirrel, etc. Hunting ground „Beli izvor" occupies the surface of 8.768 ha, where the surface of 8.713 ha is settled as a hunting surface, while the rest territory is arranged as a part for intensive hunting management (fenced surface of 615 ha, where deer and wild boar are bred). In the hunting ground you can find: roe deer, rabbit, pheasant, wolf, fox, deer, wild boar, etc. Development of sport fishing is present on West Morava and Podunavacke bare, where in addition to sport competitions, there are also the conditions for recreational fishing (Sustainable Development Strategy of the Municipality of Vrnjacka Banja, 2013). Excursions are also present on Goc mountain and they are manifested in a form of tourist activities, which do not impair its ecological integrity (hiking, active holiday, picking of herbs and mushrooms and other forest fruits, flowers, etc.)
Research methodology and hypothesis
The subject ofthe study in this paper is rural tourism as a factor of life quality improvement of rural population on Goc mountain. The study of the respondents' attitudes regarding the significance of rural tourism for the rural population life quality improvement on Goc mountain was carried out in the period from 14.10.2018. to 02.11.2018. by sending a questionnaire to e-mail addresses of respondents, who are mainly from the territory of Vrnjacka Banja and its direct vicinity. The study was proceeded by the preparation of a questionnaire, which consists of the 10 questions of opened and closed type. Questionnaire is divided in two parts. The first type of questionnaire consists of 5 questions, which refer to socio-demographic characteristics of respondents. In the second part of the questionnaire, which also consists of 5 questions, respondents have given the answers to questions on the quality of the existing offer of rural tourism on Goc mountain and manners to improve it, as well as level of including rural population
in rural tourism development and manners for its more active engagement in order to provide a better material position. The questionnaire was distributed to 500 addresses, where 220 answers were gathered. In further study, there were analyzed exclusively the answers of 150 respondents who visited Goc mountain. In this manner, it was ensured that the respondents were familiar with the existing state of offer of rural tourism on Goc mountain, as well as the life quality of rural population. The main goal of the implemented study refers to examining the possibilities for the improvement of rural tourism in order to provide better material position through its development, as well as life quality of rural population on Goc mountain.
In the paper, descriptive statistical analysis and Mann-Whiney's U-test are used. Main hypothesis, which says: Rural tourism can contribute to rural population's life quality improvement, is operationalized into the following special hypothesis:
H1: Goc mountain possesses the potentials for rural tourism development.
H2: There is a statistically significant difference between the attitudes of respondents, who live in the territory of Vrnjacka Banja and out of it in the aspect of the existence of potentials for development of rural tourism on Goc mountain.
H3: There is a statistically clear difference between the attitudes of respondents who live on the territory of Vrnjacka Banja and out of it regarding the involvement level of rural population on Goc mountain in rural tourism development.
H4: Rural population is not sufficiently included in development of rural tourism on Goc mountain.
H5: Respondents agree in the attitude that rural tourism development can contribute to the improvement of rural population life quality on Goc mountain.
Results and discussion
The study included 150 respondents, where 113 were females (75,3%) and 37 males (24,7%). Within the question regarding the age, there were 5 age groups defined. The highest participation in the sample have the respondents who belong to the age group from 20 to 25 years, more precisely 64 of them (42,7%), as well as respondents aged 26-35, i.e. 47 respondents (31,3%).
According to education level, the majority are those respondents with MA or PhD degree, more precisely 51 respondent (34%). In addition, a significant participation in the sample also take the respondents with bachelor degree, i.e. 50 respondents (33,3%.) When it comes to the professional status, 87 respondents (58%) are employed, while 49 respondents (32,7%) have the status of the student. The greatest number of respondents, i.e. 96 (64%) live outside the territory of Vrnjacka Banja, where the majority were the respondents from towns which are situated in the vicinity (Kraljevo, Trstenik, Krusevac, Kragujevac etc.). The question Does Goc mountain possess the potentialfor rural tourism development?, was affirmatively answered by 148 respondents (98,7%) (Table 1.).
Table 1. Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents
Frequency Percentage (%) Mean Standard deviation
Gender Male 37 24,7 1,75 ,433
Female 113 75,3
Age 20-25 64 42,7 1,95 1,064
26-35 47 31,3
36-45 27 18
46-55 6 4
More than 55 years 6 4
Level of education High school 43 28,7 2,73 1,209
College 6 4
University degree 50 33,3
Master/Magistar/ PhD 51 34
Professional status Unemployed 13 8,7 2,25 ,615
Employed 87 58
Student 49 32,7
Retired 1 0,7
Place of permanent residence In the territory of Vrnjacka Banja 54 36 1,64 ,482
Out of the territory of Vrnjacka Banja 96 64
Does mountain Goc have the potential to develop rural tourism? Yes 148 98,7 1,01 ,115
No 2 1,3
Source: Authors, based on research
To the question which required the evaluation of the existing state of some elements of the offer of rural tourism of Goc mountain, the respondents gave grades on Likert scale from 1-Very bad to 6-Excellent. Based on the data, which are presented in Table 2, it was obvious that average evaluations of offer elements of rural tourism on Goc mountain move within the range from 2,48 to 3,83. The highest grades have the following elements: Hospitality and kindness from the part of local population (AS=3,83), as well as Attractiveness of natural attractions (AS= 3,63). On the other hand, the poorest grades have the following elements of rural tourism offer: Presence, number and quality of accommodation offer (AS= 2,48) and Presence and quality of tourist signalization (AS=2,60) (Table 2.).
Table 2. Respondents' answers to the question of the quality of rural tourism supply
on mountain Goc
Answers Very poor Poor Average Very good Excelent AS SD
Attractiveness and soundness of rural area 3,3 14 38,7 33,3 10,7 3,34 ,961
Attractiveness of natural attractions 2,7 7,3 36,7 31,3 22 3,63 ,994
Soundness of village architecture 4 21,3 43,3 22 9,3 3,11 ,980
Quality and diversity of gastronomic specialties 2,7 22,7 37,3 26,7 10,7 3,20 ,997
Presence and diversity of cultural and historical localities 5,3 19,3 38,7 26,7 10 3,17 1,026
Presence, number and quality of accommodation offer 9,3 47,3 31,3 10 2 2,48 ,873
Presence, number and quality of offer in restaurants 10 37,3 34 12,7 6 2,67 1,020
Quality and development of communal infrastructure 10 30,7 50,7 9,3 3,3 2,73 ,841
Quality and development of transport infrastructure 2,7 28 44,7 20 4,7 2,96 ,881
Existing sports and recreational content 10,7 35,3 39,3 12 2,7 2,61 ,926
Presence and quality of tourist signalization 9,3 38,7 38 10,7 3,3 2,60 ,920
Arrangement and cleanness of Goc mountain 3,3 12,7 38,7 33,3 12 3,38 ,967
Hospitality and kindness from the part of local population 2 4,7 30,7 34,7 28 3,83 ,963
Source: Authors, based on research
Respondents were asked How can the rural tourism offer of Goc mountain be improved?, and there were 10 questions offered, as well as the possibilities for the respondents to choose only one answer. The greatest number of respondents believe that the rural tourism offer of mountain Goc can be improved through Improvement of sports-recreational and entertainment content for tourists - 58 respondents (38,7%) as well as through Integration of the offer of Goc mountain in tourist offer of Vrnjacka Banja - 22 respondents (14,7%). In addition, respondents had the possibility to add another answer to this question, in addition to the offered. Under the option Other, 3 respondents have mentioned that they believe that answers offered cannot be significant for the offer improvement of Goc mountain, as well as the introduction of new tourist attractions. The attitudes of respondents are in agreement also when it comes to the fact that offer
can be improved with a more active support of local self-government, education of local population on the significance of tourism as one of the leading economic activities today, etc. Other answers are shown in Table 3.
Table 3. Respondents' answers to the question about improving rural tourism offer on
mountain Goc
Answers Frequency Percent Valid percent Cumulative percent
Improvement of sports-recreational and entertainment content for tourists 58 38,7 38,7 38,7
Raising the awareness and education of local population on the tourism significance for development of rural area of Goc mountain 15 10 10 48,7
Financial and institutional support of local government in order to strengthen agriculture and tourism 16 10,7 10,7 59,3
Development of rural tourism on the principles of sustainable development 14 9,3 9,3 68,7
Integration of the offer of Goc mountain in tourist offer of Vrnjacka Banja 22 14,7 14,7 83,3
Greater share of local agricultural products in the preparation of gastronomic specialities for tourists 1 0,7 0,7 84
Improvement of the quality of existing and construction of new acomodation capacities 10 6,7 6,7 90,7
Inclusion of local population in providing accomodation through engagement of their households 7 4,7 4,7 95,3
Hunting and fishing as additional activities for tourists 3 2 2 97,3
Other 3 2,0 2 99,3
I don't know 1 0,7 0,7 100
Total 150 100 100
Source: Authors, based on research
As for the question To what extent is the local population included in rural tourism development on Goc mountain?, the majority of respondents, i.e. 109 of them (72,7%) believe that local population is not sufficiently included in development of this form of tourism on Goc mountain. On the other hand, 12 respondents (8,%) believe that they are not included, while 24 of them (6%) don't know the answer to this question. Only 5 respondents (3,3%) believe that they are included in development of rural tourism on Goc mountain.
Having in mind that respondents have expressed their opinion regarding the level of involvement of rural population, they were also asked about the manners in which rural population of Goc mountain can be included in rural tourism development. When it
comes to manners for the inclusion of local population in rural tourism development on Goc mountain, respondents were offered 8 answers with the possibility to provide the answers themselves, the answer which is not among the offered ones and they believe that it can contribute to the inclusion of local population in development of rural tourism. The greatest number of respondents, i.e. 33 respondents each (22 % in case of both answers), have chosen the following answers: Production and sale of agricultural products to tourists and Providing the accommodation in private households. In addition, even 32 respondents (21,3%) believe that the offer of rural tourism on Goc mountain could be improved by the Organization of attractive manifestations (gastronomic manifestations, country parties, folklores) (Table 4.). Under the option Other, 3 respondents have mentioned that most of the answers offered can enable the inclusion of local population in development of rural tourism on Goc mountain.
Table 4. Respondents' answers to questions about including the local population in the development of rural tourism on the mountain Goc
Answers Frequency Percent Valid percent Cumulative percent
Production and sale of agricultural products to tourists 33 22 22 22
Providing agricultural products to catering facilities 9 6 6 28
Providing accommodation in private households 33 22 22 50
Picking mushrooms, herbs and forest fruits with a tourist guide 16 10,7 10,7 60,7
An active contact with tourists in a form of performing agricultural works 5 3,3 3,3 64
Organization of attractive manifestations (gastronomic manifestations, country parties, folklore) 32 21,3 21,3 85,3
Learning about the old crafts 4 2,7 2,7 88
Opening an ethno restaurant 15 10 10 98
Other 3 2 2 100
Total 150 100 100
Source: Authors, based on research
Testing of the hypotheses
In this paper, there is a main hypothesis set, which says: Rural tourism can contribute to the improvement of rural population S life quality on Goc mountain. The exactness of this hypothesis was verified by the application of appropriate statistical analysis: descriptive statistical analysis and Mann-Whiney's U-test. A special hypothesis H1, which says: Goc mountain has the potentials for rural tourism development, is considered confirmed having in mind that 148 respondents (98,7%) have said that Goc mountain owns the potentials for rural tourism development.
In order to choose an appropriate statistical test for the verification of special hypotheses, there was performed the evaluation of the normality of allocation due to the fact that majority of statistical tests are based on the assumption of the normality of the dependent variable (Pallant, 2009). Based on the results of Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (Sig. .000), the assumption on normality of allocation is rejected and for that reason, instead of t-test, which is a parametric test, Mann-Whiney's U-test is used (Table 5.).
Table 5. Result of Mann-Whineyjev U-test
Does mountain Goc have the potential to develop rural tourism?
Mann-Whitney U 2538,000
Wilcoxon W 4023,000
Z -1,064
Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) ,287
Source: Authors, based on research
A special hypothesis H2, which says: There is a statistically significant difference between the attitudes of respondents who live on the territory of Vrnjacka Banja and out of it on the existence of the potentials for development of rural tourism on Goc mountain, was tested by Mann-Whiney's U-test. Based on the Asymp. Sig. (,287), which is higher than 0,05, we can conclude that special hypothesis H2 is not confirmed. Based on the results of the test applied, it was determined that there is no statistically significant difference between the attitudes of respondents who live on the territory of Vrnjacka Banja and out of it regarding the potentials for the development of rural tourism on Goc mountain.
In addition, special hypothesis H3, which says: There is a statistically clear difference among the attitudes of respondents who live on the territory of Vrnjacka Banja and out of it regarding the inclusion level of rural population on Goc mountain in rural tourism development, was also tested through Mann-Whiney's U-test. Having in mind that the value on Asymp. Sig (,002) is less than ,005, this hypothesis can be taken as true. It was determined that there is a statistically significant difference between the attitudes of respondents on the inclusion level of rural population on Goc mountain in rural tourism development.
Table 6. Result of Mann-Whineyjev U-test
To what extent is the local population involved in the development of rural tourism on the mountain Goc?
Mann-Whitney U 1977,500
Wilcoxon W 3462,500
Z -3,076
Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) ,002
Source: Authors, based on research
Special hypothesis H4 which says: Rural population is not sufficiently included in rural tourism development on Goc mountain, is confirmed by respondents answers, 109 of which (72,7%) from the total number have said that rural population is not sufficiently included in development of this form of tourism. Based on the answers of respondents to the question regarding the manners of improving the inclusion of rural population in rural tourism development of Goc mountain, the special hypothesis H5 is accepted, which says: Respondents agree that rural tourism development can contribute to the improvement of rural population's life quality on Goc mountain, as true. Respondents have said that there are different manners for the inclusion of population in development of this form of tourism. In the greatest number of cases, there were given the answers that rural population can be included in development of rural tourism through: production and sale of agricultural products to tourists (33 respondents), providing accommodation in private households (33 respondents), organization of attractive manifestations (32 respondents) etc.
Conclusions
The subject ofthe study in this paper refers to the analysis ofthe possibilities for rural tourism development on Goc mountain as a factor of the improvement of rural population's life quality on this mountain. Based on the analysis of the existing resources, we can conclude that Goc mountain offers potentials for rural tourism development although this form of tourism is still not present in its overall tourist offer. In this paper, there is an empirical study carried out in order to analyze the attitudes of respondents on development of rural tourism and manners for the inclusion of rural population in its development in order to obtain a better material position and life quality. Main hypothesis, from which empirical study has started, and which says: Rural tourism can contribute to the improvement of rural population's life quality on Goc mountain is confirmed having in mind that four of the set five hypotheses, based on which main one was operationalized, are confirmed by appropriate statistical methods. The implemented research has confirmed the existence of the resources for rural tourism development, as well as the fact that rural population is not sufficiently included in its development. In addition, by this study there were confirmed the manners for the improvement of rural tourism offer, as well as more intensive engagement of rural population in its development.
For a more successful development of rural tourism, it is required to set a good communication between all the crucial stakeholders of Goc mountain, particularly between local population that takes part in development of rural tourism and public and private sector. Local population can have a crucial role in the development of rural tourism of Goc mountain and it should be in many ways included directly in its development. First of all, local population can sell its products to catering facilities and tourists, they can also rent their private households to tourists, they can organize attractive manifestations such as gastronomic and/or manifestations that refer to folklore and the like. Success in development of rural tourism on Goc mountain can be achieved by joining of the local population that directly takes part in development of this tourism form for the sake of creation and promotion of tourist offer like it is done in Cluj County in Romania.
Acknowledgements
Paper is a part of research within the project no. III 46006 - Sustainable agriculture and
rural development in the function of accomplishing strategic objectives of the Republic
of Serbia in the Danube region, financed by the Ministry of Education, Science and
Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. Project period: 2011-2018.
Conflict of interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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