The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) is part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and provides funding to small companies through various schemes, including direct payments under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The EAFRD is especially relevant to tourism as it aims to address structural problems in rural areas, such as a lack of attractive employment opportunities, skill shortages, under-investment in connectivity, infrastructure, and essential services, as well as youth brain drain. The fund supports initiatives for territorial economic development, rural infrastructure, and the conservation of small-scale built heritage, all of which contribute to developing smart villages and enhancing tourism appeal in rural areas.