The sphere of tourism is one of the main industries that affects the general state and development trends of the world economy. Tourism is one of the top three industries in terms of generated income in the world. It is developing at a fast pace and occupies an important place in the world economy. The war going on in Ukraine today has no analogues in modern European history. It is difficult to make a correct analogy of the development of tourism in Ukraine in comparison with European countries and to assess the impact of the war on the tourism sector. During the war new challenges arise, which makes adjustments to the planning and development of tourist activities. Modern world trends in the development of the tourism sphere indicate the growing interest of tourists in recreation, which is directly related to nature. In Ukraine, there is a significant potential for the development of rural tourism thanks to various natural conditions and resources. Rest in the countryside is one of the promising directions for the revival and development of rural settlements. Rural tourism combines a number of resources that can make a tourist's vacation attractive and unforgettable. The article considers the current state of development of rural tourism in Ukraine, which suffered significant losses as a result of the large-scale war by the Russian Federation against Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The data on the direct damage to the infrastructure as a result of destruction caused by Russia's military aggression against Ukraine in the year since the beginning of the full-scale invasion are given. It is highlighted the main tasks regarding the implementation of measures aimed at the successful development of rural tourism in the conditions of war in Ukraine. The strengths and weaknesses, potential opportunities and threats are determined based on the SWOT analysis of the development of rural tourism in Ukraine. It is proposed a conditional division of the territory of Ukraine into six regions for the development of rural tourism in the war and post-war period. The main obstacles and prospects for the development of rural tourism in Ukraine are revealed.

Rural tourism in Ukraine is in its infancy today. The revival of rural communities, their further social and economic development are connected with the future industry of rural tourism. Holidays in picturesque villages through the use of the available private housing stock of hospitable hosts have a positive effect not only on the health of vacationers, but also on the environment and the economy of the regions of Ukraine. This, in turn, expands the employment scope of rural residents, gives the opportunity to implement on the spot the environmentally friendly products of personal farming, helps to increase the attractiveness and viability of rural areas, to mitigate demographic problems, to reduce migration, to promote local resources and folk traditions, thereby diversifying life of rural communities. The picturesque Ukrainian village has a unique historical and architectural heritage, medical and recreational resources, original culture and way of life, unique landscapes, rich national traditions, opportunities to eat ecologically clean products and recreation in enchanting nature. That is why today rural tourism is becoming more widespread among tourists. This type of tourism proves that it is not only a type of recreation, but also an important factor in solving socio-economic problems of the village, one of the types of small business. The article considers the rural tourism as a promising direction of development of the tourism industry in Ukraine. It was analyzed the current state and features of rural tourism development in regions of Ukraine, which are attractive and favorable for recreation in rural areas. It was highlighted the main advantages of this type of recreation and the opportunities, which rural tourism opens for the rural population in each region of Ukraine. It is emphasized that rural tourism as an economic activity contributes to regional development and leads to the overall economic growth of the country. It is determined that rural tourism is a guarantor of stability and viability of rural areas, an important alternative for agriculture and a factor in the development of local communities.