In the study, selected aspects were presented concerning the assessment of tourist potential of communes in the context of shaping their competitiveness. Against the background of theoretical considerations one’s own proposal was presented on measurement of tourist potential of rural communes, constituting a modification of the method of G. Gołembski. The changes made by the author result mainly from the specifics of rural areas and technological progress. The values of measurement factors presented which characterize a tourist attractiveness of communes in Subcarpathian region point out for potentially high possibilities of development of rural tourism. Unfortunately, in the quantity approach the Subcarpathian region is located on a quite high position on a scale in the whole country, this however is a low attractive quality offer which makes that rural tourism is low competitive against the background of other regions. Most often chances of tourist development are ascribed to endogen resources including especially natural and cultural ones. In the meantime, experiences of other regions indicate that the success of a given region depends not only on natural attractions or cultural heritage, but more and more often creativity, ability to cooperate and determination of persons and entities involved in the development of rural tourism. Among many decisions and activities of strategic and organizational nature, in the opinion of the author on the basis of the research conducted, one may point out six, basic elements which raise tourist competitiveness (so called 6 „P” of rural tourism): social participation, ideas, positioning, partnership, offer package and promotion.