Rural development is considered, in E.U., as the basic point of the Agricultural Community Policy, particularly from the point of view of labor occupancy. Thus, they aim at the implementation of an integrated policy of sustainable rural development that allows for the valorisation of all types of potential in rural areas. The analysis of agro-tourism concept shows that it is a complex entity. Therefore, to know this concept one should decompose and explain its component parts centring on rural household activities, agro-tourism ones. Agro-tourism means evaluation of natural landscape, lodging offers and services provided by rural households and agro-tourism farms with the aim of getting an income. Agro-tourist households get basic incomes from agricultural activities, while part of the incomes are from agro-tourist services. The coordinates of sustainable rural development should start from a triple analysis - economic, social, and ecological. Any action has its impact, therefore, it should define sustainable development strategies and policies.

sustainable development, agro-tourism, environmental protection.

environmental engineering

Presentation: oral