Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas—The Case of the Vršac Mountains Outstanding Natural Landscape, Vojvodina Province (Northern Serbia)

Igor Trišić (), Florin Nechita, Vladica Ristić, Snežana Štetić, Marija Maksin and Ioana Anisa Atudorei
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Igor Trišić: Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade, Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Florin Nechita: Department of Social and Communication Sciences, Transilvania University of Brasov, 29, Eroilor Bd., 500036 Brasov, Romania
Vladica Ristić: Faculty of Applied Ecology “Futura”, Metropolitan University, Požeška 83, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia
Snežana Štetić: The College of Tourism Belgrade, Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 152a, 11070 Belgrade, Serbia
Marija Maksin: Institute of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 73/II, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Ioana Anisa Atudorei: Department of Social and Communication Sciences, Transilvania University of Brasov, 29, Eroilor Bd., 500036 Brasov, Romania

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: The sustainable development of tourism in protected areas and the planning of its development is extremely important for mountain regions. The local population and tourists have a very important role in this process. Therefore, surveys of the local population and visitor satisfaction represent the basis of this research. The Vršac Mountains Outstanding Natural Landscape (ONL) could represent a significant destination for sustainable tourism. This mountainous area is characterized by a favorable geographical position, a diversity of natural and social factors, rare flora and fauna, and the rich ethno-social heritage of the local population. It is in a very favorable geographical position, and the proximity of the big cities Serbia and Romania, as well as many other factors, are important for tourism development in this area. A quantitative methodology was used for the purposes of this paper during our research. The purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of tourism development on the satisfaction of residents and visitors of the ONL by applying a survey technique, with the help of a questionnaire as a research instrument. A total of 1419 respondents were surveyed (789 residents and 630 visitors). The research results show that the ecological and socio-cultural dimensions of sustainability have the greatest importance for the respondents, and that these two dimensions of sustainability have the greatest impact on sustainable tourism in this protected area. Our main research hypothesis, which states that sustainable tourism has a positive impact on the satisfaction of residents and visitors, is fully confirmed. These data could be significant for tourism planning and the management of protected areas.

Keywords: prism of sustainability; tourism development; planning; nature-based tourism; events (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:7760-:d:1142669

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