Rural tourism is increasingly more and more used as a development strategy to improve the social and economic well-being of rural areas, and includes a wide range of activities and natural or manmade attractions. The advantages of rural tourism are expressed through the growth of employment on the basis of the potential of rural areas and widening of regional economic base, population, a better living standard, social progress and revitalization of the local craft. This thesis attempts to explore the natural and cultural tourist resources of village Dabašnica and discuss the effects of the development of rural tourism in the sustainable development of the region. Dabašnica has a very decreased population which represents a perfect place to relax in a pleasant atmosphere consisting of rich flora and fauna. Very often population migrations are caused by natural disasters or wars, as is the case of abandoned village Dabašnica. It is economically depressed and underdeveloped area under special state care, located near Plitvica lakes, spring of river Una, and other tourist attractions, whereby this location represents possibility of developing a tourist destination that will attract tourists who are already present due to the above. In the context of developing sustainable rural tourism, in the thesis is also analysed the current situation of rural tourism in the area, and identified opportunities and guidelines for its sustainable development. At the end of the thesis is presented a business plan for a sustainable tourism project (self-sustaining holiday homes) in the village of Dabašnica.