Development problems and potentials of rural settlements – case study of rural settlements on the territory of the city municipality Pantelej, Niš

Abstract

In the Republic of Serbia, rural areas occupy a large part of the territory, where almost 50% of the total population lives. Rural areas play an important role in regional and overall development, they represent areas of great importance for food production and are characterized by landscapes with exceptional natural features. Despite the large number of potentials that characterize these areas, they are devastated, marginalized and backward in economic, social and spatial terms. The paper analyzes rural areas in the territory of the City municipality Pantelej in Niš with the aim of determining their development problems and potentials, which are the basis for defining future programs and projects for the revitalization of these areas. In order to plan comprehensive development for rural areas, it is necessary to determine the key development problems and potentials based on the analysis of all the structures of rural areas so that all their characteristics are considered. The conducted analysis concluded that the analyzed rural areas are currently in poor condition and that revitalization of all their structures is necessary in order to overcome the existing problems, improve the potentials that distinguish them and promote future development.