Ecolabels as a Tool of Sustainable Development in Tourist Destinations

Abstract

The research aimed to explore whether ecolabels could be used as innovation tools to achieve sustainable tourism development (STD) at the level of a tourist destination. The paper used results obtained by a questionnaire survey among destination management organizations (DMOs) in cities and municipalities to investigate how much ecolabels are used at the level of tourist destinations in a case study of the Republic of Croatia (in 2017 and 2021). DMOs were chosen as the subject of research due to their crucial role in the development of tourist destinations. The findings from the linear research indicate that DMOs in Croatia still do not recognize the importance and role of implementation of tourist ecolabels as an innovation tool in achieving sustainable tourism development at the destination level. The paper provides new theoretical insights into the application of ecolabels at the level of cities and municipalities as tourist destinations. Thus, it could induce future research by scholars in this field because an analysis of academic literature indicates that there is a lack of such research. Moreover, the results given by this research could provide a basis for DMOs to start to think in a different way about the application of ecolabels at the level of a tourist destination.

Is seniors' tourism behavior related to sustainable tourism?

“…It is also worth paying attention to research on factors encouraging tourism in line with the SDGs. Bučar et al (2022) discussed the importance of the implementation of various eco-labels in the tourism industry in order to promote sustainability. Kim et al (2023) presented the results of a study on how to manage and shape policies so as to mitigate the tourism carbon footprint.…”

Behavioural science for sustainable tourism

“…Gössling and Buckley (2016) identified four factors that can contribute to the success of eco-labels, namely how well tourists understand the information an eco-label aims to convey, whether an individual appreciates the significance of these labels and trusts a label being reliable, and whether an individual knows how to act more sustainably (Gössling and Buckley, 2016). Previous studies have suggested there is potential for eco-labels to signal and profile sustainable tourism providers and make sustainable innovations in destinations more visible (Bučar et al, 2022). A prominent example of a successful eco-label is the Austrian eco-label, which as part of the Tourism2030 platform aims to make sustainable tourism products and services more visible.…”

How do European seniors perceive and implement the postulates of sustainable tourism?

“…In 2019, the Travel & Tourism sector contributed 10.4% to global GDP, in 2015 -10%, and in 2013 -9% (Jus & Misrahi, 2021;WTO and UNDP, 2017). The Covid-19 pandemic significantly slowed growth of the tourist industry (Bučar et al, 2022;Demeter et al, 2023;Gössling et al, 2021;Kassem et al, 2021). In 2022, the Travel & Tourism sector contributed 7.6% to global GDP (World Travel & Tourism Council [WTTC], 2023).…”

“…In 2022, the Travel & Tourism sector contributed 7.6% to global GDP (World Travel & Tourism Council [WTTC], 2023). Unexpected economic events, natural disasters, infectious diseases and other dramatic events have strongly affected tourism, but this sector is recovering very quickly (Bučar et al, 2022).…”