Rural development in the region of Apulia (Italy). Initiatives and practices: between past and future

The resources of the rural space are becoming basic for educational and entrepreneurship programs, thus nourishing pages of policies and strategies. Among the possible activities linked to this space, there is rural tourism. The present contribution analyses the successful initiatives of the region of Apulia (Italy) in the field of rural development. The qualitative diagnosis reveals the growing interest in rural space in this region, where rural tourism is a promising sector for the development of sustainable tourism. Consequently, we opt for focusing our attention on this activity. It is approached from a double comparative perspective. On the one hand, we take into account the theoretical definitions of rural tourism. On the other hand, we will evaluate the transferability of the successful practices in the field of rural tourism of other countries. The result is a proposal of transferable Good Practices, with the intention to enhance the development sustainable tourism in Apulia.