IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN ACHIEVING MORE RESILIENT WESTERN BALKAN DESTINATIONS

Sonja Jovanović; Ivana Filipović; Vladan Vučić

doi:10.52370/TISC24429SJ

Sonja Jovanović University of Niš, Faculty of Economics, Niš, Serbia
Ivana Filipović University of Niš, Faculty of Economics, Niš, Serbia
Vladan Vučić University „Union - Nikola Tesla“, Faculty of Law, Security and Management „Constantine the Great“ Niš, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52370/TISC24429SJ

Keywords: natural resources, environmental sustainability, tourism, ecological risk

Abstract

Managing environmental threats in the tourism industry is a critical challenge for future development. Adhering to sustainable development principles is a vital solution. This paper examines the natural resource availability and environmental sustainability capacity of Western Balkan countries to highlight the risks of preserving natural resources. The results of the analysis show that the countries of the Western Balkans have a significantly higher level of capacity for environmental sustainability than the availability of the potential of the natural environment. Therefore, better protection of natural resources is necessary through increased protection areas, the number of total known species, terrestrial and freshwater ecoregions, and better promotion of natural attractions through effective digital demand management.

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