Environmental aspects of sustainable tourism development

Abstract

Rapid development of eco-tourism is reflected in an almost equally rapid growth in the number of researchers who draw attention to potentially detrimental and destructive consequences of tourism growth. Sustainable tourism and eco-tourism destinations are crucially important for sustainable development, which has emerged as a logical need to stop the accelerated economic growth based on unlimited exploitation of available resources. In this paper, the focus is on the ecological aspects of sustainable tourism development, with a special emphasis on the application of ecotourism in ecotourism destinations and the motivation of tourists in ecotourism. Ecotourism represents a specific form of tourism aimed at preserving natural resources and promoting sustainable development. Ecotourism destinations are of particular importance in the promotion of ecological principles in tourism. In this paper, the paper analyzes the factors applied in ecotourism, with the aim of improving the sustainable development of tourism. Also, the motives of tourists for participating in ecotourism are considered, as well as the ways in which ecotourism destinations can improve their offer in order to attract tourists. Special emphasis is placed on the ecological aspects of the sustainable development of tourism and the ways in which tourism can influence the preservation of natural resources and the protection of the environment.