the rural area in the Republic of Croatia has exceptional tourist resources that are not sufficiently valorized for tourism. On the other hand, rural areas are most often characterized by a small number of mostly elderly people, small family farms and underdeveloped infrastructure. In this final paper we will look at the above facts, the development of rural tourism in the Gorski kotar. Also, in this paper we keep in mind that the tourism industry is not a harmless industry, and that if the development of tourism in rural areas is not managed by the local community, very serious and unforeseeable negative consequences can be achieved with regard to the environment, sociocultural interactions and and the economy itself. Since this is an ecologically preserved area whose resources need to be preserved for future generations, the concept of sustainable development with emphasized elements of ecotourism is necessarily imposed in the development of rural tourism. Ensuring the sustainable development of tourism in rural areas is reflected in the perception of the development needs of the local community. Given that tourism can pose a risk to the environment, it is necessary to develop tourism that is not based on "exploitation" and "resource-intensive" approach but on the foundations of sustainable and ecotourism. It is believed that sustainable tourism within rural areas such as Gorski kotar, with elements of eco-tourism can be the most effective tool for valorization of natural heritage, contributing to its preservation and achieving the well-being of local communities. In this paper, he will explore the development of tourism in Gorski kotar with an emphasis on sustainable eco-tourism. Given that one of the main reasons for dealing with tourism is to improve the quality of life of the local population, the results of research related to the connection of local community participation, in this case local population, in decision-making on tourism development, knowledge exchange and community empowerment will be presented. development of tourism in rural areas. Communities must play an integral role in tourism development and propose an approach that emphasizes the need for community control and management of local tourism development.