Rural development in modern, urban world of today has a special place. It is necessary at all levels to turn those modes of action that are benevolently acting on the environment and the living environment of mankind and effectively implement integrative and multidimensional approach to sustainable rural area. Croatian accession to the European Union on July 1st 2013, brought possibilities of using European structural and investment funds. One of the significant funds for rural development is the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, which has the aim of strengthening the EU's rural policy and simplifying its implementation. With concrete, well deliberate policy of development of rural areas, Croatia has a great opportunity to provide material predisposition in meeting the goals and measures. Hvar is the middle Dalmatian island in the Adriatic Sea with all kinds of efficient development of rural areas. Rural tourism is in its infancy, but there are obvious improvements, particularly in the form of eco-ethnic villages and tourist routes on the roads of lavender, immortelle and similar. Residents note that the biggest problem lies in the lack of interest of local authorities to educate citizens of the importance of rural development of their areas, lack of organizing events, workshops and working groups to create high-quality programs of rural development in terms of applying for funds from the ESI funds and the like. However, optimism is perceived in a positive view of the future of rural development of the island of Hvar, as it is one of the most prosperous islands in the region and beyond.