Cross-boarder collaboration as a major factor for sustainable rural tourism development: Economic indicators – approach.

This study investigates how residents perceive the economic impacts of rural tourism in the Danube border area between Croatia (Sarvaš, Bijelo Brdo, Dalj, Aljmaš, Erdut) and Serbia (Neštin, Susek, Sviloš, Banoštor, Čerević). The aim was to evaluate resident attitudes toward tourism’s contribution to income, employment, living standards, and entrepreneurship, and to explore whether these perceptions can inform future cross-border cooperation. A survey of 417 inhabitants was conducted using an adapted Tourism Impact Attitude Scale (TIAS), and Pearson’s chi-square test was applied to assess gender differences. The findings reveal strong support for tourism as an economic driver: most respondents reported higher household income, improved living standards, and attractive employment opportunities linked to tourism. Significant gender differences emerged in financial and employment-related aspects, underscoring the need for targeted education and women’s empowerment. Overall, the results suggest that positive economic attitudes form a strong foundation for sustainable rural development and provide a rationale for EU-funded cross-border initiatives.