Abstract
The hotel and restaurant industry, which are part of the tourist business in the Bulgarian rural municipalities, have become the „economic sectors“ that report a large growth in employment and an increase in non-financial enterprises in recent years. At the beginning of the 21st century, due to poorly developed socio-economic activities and deteriorated infrastructure, the population of rural areas of the country with their economic activities did not fall under the lens of a sustainable business model. Today we can already say that the rural territory has a new look and prospects, the villages can now show a new quality of life, competitiveness and development, precisely thanks to two key sub-sectors: hotel and restaurant industry, which are the basis of tourism. The environment of the Bulgarian village (rural areas), the natural features, the clear origin of food products, local traditions and culture, are a socio-economic basis for the development of small and medium-sized businesses in tourism and agriculture. The local business, built on the basis of the above-mentioned socio-economic activities, is the basis of formation and preservation of BDS in the rural areas of the South Central Region.
The development includes a wide range of research methods, based on representative results of NSI, results of empirical sociological research, internet sources and graphic method. The scientific research proves that it is the hotel and restaurant industry, which are part of tourism that are a perspective basis for the development of the Bulgarian rural municipalities.
Key words: tourism, restaurant, hospitality, rural area and competitiveness