ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF RURAL GREEN TOURISM IN THE CONTEXT OF RURAL TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE

In the article it is pointed out that the cost efficient and socially oriented programs that can contribute to the socio-economic development of the territorial communities are becoming more and more important under modern conditions. Such industries as tourism, in particular rural green tourism as a phenomenon that has a significant potential in the development of rural regions of the country and constantly increasing profitability, belong to these industries. The economic essence of rural green tourism as a type of entrepreneurial activity of the rural population is revealed in the article. It is proved that rural green tourism is a separate type of tourism; this type of tourism is compared with the similar types such as agricultural tourism, ecotourism and farm tourism. The terminological definition of rural green tourism is proposed. It is a type of an entrepreneurial activity in providing the recreation services in the rural areas using the private property of the country men and local natural and historical and cultural resources. The subject of the economic activity in the field of rural green tourism is agro-dwelling or farmstead. The economic importance of rural green tourism consists in the fact that it encourages the development of peasants farms which owners operate it as a kind of subsidiary holdings; it also encourages the local infrastructure, promotes the sale of the agricultural surpluses increasing the incomes of the rural residents and budgetary allocations, activates the local labour market, increases the employment, keeps the rural youth, promotes the protection of tourist resources and preservation of cultural achievements of the Ukrainian people and the communities of ethnic minorities, and provides the opportunities for recreation of the poor sections of the population. The authors came to the conclusion that rural green tourism has a considerable potential in the development of the rural areas in Ukraine.