Open AccessThe role of the local populace in the development of ecotourism: The views of residents of Vojvodina cities on the Danube
Author(s) -
Ana Pajvančić,
Slobodanka Markov
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
zbornik matice srpske za društvene nauke/zbornik matice srpske za društvene nauke
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2406-0836
pISSN - 0352-5732
DOI - 10.2298/zmsdn1134051p
Subject(s) - ecotourism , tourism , work (physics) , sustainability , population , environmental planning , geography , sustainable development , environmental resource management , business , political science , sociology , ecology , engineering , environmental science , mechanical engineering , demography , archaeology , law , biology
Recent trends in the development of tourism are redirecting attention away from mass tourism toward alternative forms, harmonized with the principle of sustained development of tourism. As a form of alternative tourism, ecotourism is based on combining nature visits with nature conservation. Along with the development of ecotourism, there is also a growing awareness that the receiving population must no longer be viewed as a passive receiver of tourism but as a factor of its development, shaping and sustainability. That is why, in planning ecotourism development, it is necessary to analyze the potential of the local population to take part in its realization. As there has been a lack of research of this problem within our own environment, the work analyzes the results of the research of the ecological awareness of residents of Vojvodina cities in the Danube basin, with special emphasis placed on views regarding ecotourism. The assumption of the work is that, without a developed ecological consciousness and informedness of the local population regarding the potentials and benefits of ecotourism, the development of this branch of tourism cannot be adequately carried out