Tourism is one of the worlds fastest growing industries and is a major source of

income for many countries. Being a people-oriented industry, it also provides

many jobs which have helped revitalize local economies. However, like other
forms of development, tourism can also cause its share of problems, such as
social dislocation, loss of cultural heritage, economic dependence and ecological
deterioration. These are all factors which have been overlooked for a long time
in favor of money, but an increasing awareness of the problems of mass tourism
is leading many holidaymakers to seek more responsible and sustainable forms
of tourism. Therefore, to ensure that the negative effects do not outweigh the
financial benefits, all tourism activities of whatever motivation whether it be
holidays, business travel, conferences, adventure travel and ecotourism need
to be sustainable.
It is quite common for people to assume that the term sustainable is a
reference to eco-friendliness. Going green is a big part of sustainable tourism but
its not its only element. The aim of sustainable tourism development is to
provide people with an exciting and educational holiday that is also of benefit to
the people of the host country. This means that neither the natural environment
nor the socio-cultural communities will be impaired by the arrival of tourists. On
the contrary, they should benefit from tourism, both economically and culturally.
Sustainability implies that tourism resources and attractions should be utilized in
such a way that their use by future generations is not compromised.
With the increase of leisure time, earnings and trends, 180 million Europeans are
traveling for holidays every year. The adventurous spirit is more evident in
modern tourists as well as greater demand for holidays that are full of outdoor
activities, cultural and recreational contents. As most of the tourists avoid
destinations with impaired environment, Improvement of sustainable tourism is
of vital importance. Over-construction on the coast, excessive pollution,
destruction of natural resources and animal habitats, loss of cultural integrity are
all things happening right now in Croatia. Once an area becomes over-exposed,
over-used, and unappealing, the tourists will simply move to a different place in
the country, leaving destruction in their wake. Luckily, local businesses and
communities are standing up to it more and more, insisting on a proper plan of
development that will benefit both sides of the equation.
Tourism has been a major economic driver for Croatia for years but its even
more so in the recent past. With such an overwhelming influx of visitors year

after year it is important to find a development model that will allow Croatia to
grow economically thanks to tourism, but that will also take into account the
sustainability of such an effort. A great example of such an attempt is Sail
Croatia, a family-owned business specializing in small ship cruises around the
stunning coastline of Croatia. Since being passionate about raising awareness of
environmental, economic and sustainable tourism policies in Croatia, Sail Croatia
has created a special sail week known as Green Sail. The Green Sail Adventure is
eco-friendly and works with local businesses and captains to ensure business is
not outsourced and remains a unique Croatian experience for their guests. They
share the responsibility to protect the environment, customs and traditions of
the region with their guests and find this is appreciated as they gain knowledge
and receive a culturally diverse experience whilst travelling. It is a holiday where
youre not just sitting around with thousands of other tourists but, one which you
are actively participating in the life of the community. You will board your yacht
and hop from island to island experiencing local life and enjoying local wines and
dishes but you will also get your hands dirty! You will bike through the beautiful
Mljet National Park as you make your way to the clean-up area or rapid through
Cetina river in Omis while stopping to clean the river where possible.
This eco-adventure has been active since 2013 and offers its tours in spring time
providing you with a unique opportunity to meet local people and make a
genuine difference to the local community, while helping them prepare for the
season. By focusing on sustainable tourism, these kind of businesses make sure
that there is tourism in the future; that natural resources get a chance to
replenish, that locals get compensated for their work and that communities that
make a destination popular continue to thrive and prosper. The distinction is
between the traveller who visits in order to learn and experience the cultures
and environments of the places visited, and the tourist who visits to be
entertained by images and experiences created especially for the tourist market.
It is all possible, but only with good cooperation between all stakeholders, from
local communities to the tourists themselves.