Sustainable tourism: Space utilization of mountain boundary regions

Boundary regions of Serbia, especially mountainous, are among the least developed regions in the country. The causes for this have political and economical origins: encouraged industrialization and urbanization after the Second World War, policy of isolation from the neighboring countries (barrier function of a border), and directing of economic and demographic development towards big towns, dynamic demographic and economic centers. One of the most obvious examples of this process is Mt. Stara Planina. The answers of the state authorities to the problems of boundary regions are mostly inadequate. Earlier strategies and development plans dealt with the possibilities of revitalization of boundary regions, from the aspect of desired, instead of real socio-economic condition, and therefore they were never really accomplished. Regarding this fact, this paper does not deal with revitalization of these areas (which would mean the return of population and revival of the settlements), because it would be impossible, but more likely with reutilization of available resources (natural and anthropogenic). One of the most significant directions is the development of hunting tourism, as the only Form of sustainable tourism appropriate for this area.