The purpose of the article is to determine the impact of rural tourism on the well-being of territorial communities and to determine the economic effect of this development. The following scientific methods were used in the study: analysis and synthesis, economic and statistical analysis, deduction and induction, comparison method, survey, and graphical method. As a result of the study, a statistical overview of tourism in Ukraine was conducted, the share of tourism in Ukraine’s GDP was investigated, and the number of inbound, outbound, and domestic tourists in Ukraine for the period from 2000 to 2020 was determined and the growth rate of the number of tourists for this period was compared. The structure of tourists by the purpose of the trip and the structure of non-resident tourists by the expenses they make when visiting Ukraine are outlined. The factors that promote and impede the development of rural tourism are presented.

Highlights

• The article aims to assess the influence of rural tourism on the well-being of territorial communities and examine its economic implications, utilizing various scientific methods such as analysis, synthesis, economic and statistical analysis, and surveys to analyze tourism in Ukraine, its contribution to GDP, tourist numbers, impact on local development, and factors influencing its growth and obstacles, ultimately identifying priority directions for regional tourism development.