SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INDICATORS AS DRIVERS OF CHANGE: CASE STUDIES OF THE SELECTED EU COUNTRIES
Keywords:
sustainable tourism, indicators, EU countries, transformation, sustainability
Abstract
The transformation of tourism into a more sustainable sector aligned with both economic and environmental goals has become a priority worldwide. This transition requires a stable measurement framework capable of identifying economic, environmental and social aspects of tourist activities and actors. The paper examines sustainable tourism indicators as drivers of change, structured into three pillars of sustainability, and their relationship to the Sustainable Development Goals. The measurement of sustainable tourism is presented through the case studies of Italy, Austria, Spain, and Sweden. Aiming to assess the extent to which sustainability is incorporated in the national tourism systems of the selected countries, the case studies address micro-destinations, tourism and travel influence on transport emissions, the environmental pressures from tourists' consumption, and compare these data with traditional tourism indicators. The findings reveal that while all the analyzed countries demonstrate progress towards sustainable tourism, significant disparities exist between tourist growth and environmental protection.
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References
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Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C. & Ulgiati, S. (2016). A review on circular economy: the expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems, Journal of Cleaner Production, 114, 11–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.007
Kaszás, N., Keller, K. & Birkner, Z. (2022). Understanding circularity in tourism, Society and Economy, 44(1), 65–82. https://doi.org/10.1556/204.2021.00025
Ko, T. G. (2005). Development of a tourism sustainability assessment procedure: A conceptual approach. Tourism Management, 26(3), 431–445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2003.12.003
Mansi, E., Feruni, N., Ren, Y., Hysa, E. & Ndou, V. (2025). Sustainable Journeys: Navigating the Circular Economy Wave in EU Tourism for a Greener Future. Sustainability, 17, 8197. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188197
Punzo, G., Trunfio, M., Castellano, R. & Buonocore, M. (2022). A Multi-modelling Approach for Assessing Sustainable Tourism. Social Indicators Research, 163, 1399–1443. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-022-02943-4
Radivojević, V., Dimovski, J. & Mitić, G. (2023). Quantifying the financial impact of COVID-19 on the largest global companies in the hotel industry, Hotel and Tourism Management, 11(1), 165-176, DOI: 10.5937/menhottur2301165R
Rodríguez, C., Florido, C., & Jacob, M. (2020). Circular Economy Contributions to the Tourism Sector: A Critical Literature Review. Sustainability, 12(11), https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114338
Ruhanen, L., Weiler, B., Moyle, B.D. & McLennan, C. L. J. (2015). Trends and patterns in sustainable tourism research: a 25-year bibliometric analysis. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(4), 517–535. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2014.978790
Stanišić, T., Radivojević, V. & Dimovski, J. (2022). Interdependence of tourism competitiveness and development of Southern European countries. Economics. 61(3), 1-11, 10.5937/ekonomika2203001S
Strippoli, R., Gallucci, T. & Ingrao, C. (2024). Circular economy and sustainable development in the tourism sector – An overview of the truly-effective strategies and related benefits, Heliyon, 10(17), e36801 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36801
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private_sec/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2024/02/15/2023-achieving-the-sustainable-development-goals-through-tourism-toolkit-of-indicators-for-projects-(tips).pdf
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UNWTO (2021). Recommendations for the Transition to a Green Travel and Tourism Economy. Retrieved March 15, 2026, from https://webunwto.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2021-05/210504-Recommendations-for-the-Transition-to-a-Green-Travel-and-Tourism-Economy.pdf
UNWTO (2020). Experiences from pilot studies in measuring the sustainability of tourism – A synopsis for policy makers. Retrieved March 1, 2026, from https://webunwto.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2020-09/Experiences-from-pilot-studies-in-Measuring-the-Sustainability-of-Tourism.pdf
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UNWTO. (2005). Making tourism more sustainable: A guide for policy makers. Retrieved February 25, 2026, from https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284408214
UNWTO. (2004). Indicators of sustainable development for tourism destinations: A guidebook. Retrieved March 2, 2026, from https://tourismgreeneconomy.weebly.com/uploads/8/1/3/1/81312260/indicators_of_sustainable_development_for_tourism_destinations_unwto.pdf
Published
2026-10-16
How to Cite
Dimovski, J., Rađenović, Žarko, & Dambrava, V. (2026). SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INDICATORS AS DRIVERS OF CHANGE: CASE STUDIES OF THE SELECTED EU COUNTRIES. Tourism International Scientific Conference Vrnjačka Banja - TISC, 9(1), 355-366. https://doi.org/10.52370/TISC26355JD
Section
Articles
