Success and sustainability of eco-tourism products. Rural development and rural tourism in Europe, more than an opportunity a means of revitalisation

In the European Union landowners and land managers have to support high pressure because of the change of the legal and economic fram they live in. The Reform of the CAP leads to the decrease of the resources available, the thinning of the EU internal preferences, the need for restructuration, mainly in the new EU Members and the environmental constraints tends to reduce the revenues of landentrepreneurs.

Nevertheless the EU, to keep an attrative environment needs active people to stay in the countryside. What we call „natural environment” has been stewarded by Man for centuries and need attention to preserve its longuevity. Biodiversity also relies on the action of men.

Private ownership and entrepreneurship are the only means to secure the presence of people in the countryside. Therefore new ways of entrepreneurship have to be developped through rural development and rural tourism.

To be perene such a toursim shall respect the need of environments and is therefore, by essence, a sustainable mean to promote the rooting of people in the countryside.

ELO defends defends private ownership and entrepreneurship at European level and is convinced they can help new EU countries to develop their economy.