Sustainable Tourism Development in Natura 2000 Sites: Ecotourism, Governance, and Local Empowerment

Paris Tsartas, Sofoklis Skoultsos, Efthymia Sarantakou, Konstantina Tsalapati (), Andreas Papatheodorou, Alexios.Patapios Kontis, Constantine Yannopoulos, Fotis Sidirofagis, Theoni Dede, Kalliopi Stara and Charalampos Papoutsakis
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Paris Tsartas: Harokopio University
Sofoklis Skoultsos: Harokopio University
Efthymia Sarantakou: University of West Attica
Konstantina Tsalapati: University of the Aegean
Andreas Papatheodorou: University of the Aegean
Alexios.Patapios Kontis: University of the Aegean
Constantine Yannopoulos: Harokopio University
Fotis Sidirofagis: University of the Aegean
Theoni Dede: University of the Aegean
Kalliopi Stara: University of Ioannina
Charalampos Papoutsakis: Harokopio University

A chapter in Synergizing Management, Culture, and Arts for Tourism Development - Vol. 2, 2026, pp 559-576 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Natura 2000, Europe’s largest coordinated network of protected areas, offers significant opportunities to align biodiversity conservation with local economic growth through sustainable tourism. Drawing from literature analysis and case study evidence from Greece, this chapter explores how participatory governance, responsible tourism practices, and empowered Destination Management and Marketing Organizations (DMMOs) can reconcile conservation priorities with resilient, community-based tourism economies. It examines the multifaceted value of protected areas, evolving tourism demand trends, and strategies for unlocking economic opportunities while maintaining ecological integrity. Emphasizing integrated governance, carrying capacity management, and climate adaptation mainstreaming, the study outlines the critical role of policy frameworks at national and European levels in supporting these objectives. Evidence from Greece’s Natura 2000 sites demonstrates that empowered governance, robust data-driven management, and local community participation can transform protected areas into living laboratories for sustainable tourism, climate resilience, and cultural preservation. The chapter concludes that Natura 2000 can serve as a flagship model for global sustainable tourism practices, ensuring biodiversity conservation and local development for future generations.

Keywords: Sustainable tourism; Natura 2000; Participatory governance; Destination management; Biodiversity conservation; Local empowerment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L83 Q57 Q58 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:prbchp:978-3-032-17534-2_35

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-17534-2_35

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