CONTRIBUTION OF ECO-HOTELS TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Suvremeni turizam predstavlja jednu od najmasovnijih i najdinamičnijih društvenoekonomskih pojava te u 21. stoljeću uživa status jedne od vodećih „industrija“ svijeta. Naglim i nekontroliranim razvojem turizma, taj isti prostor dolazi u opasnost čime se ugrožava opstanak i profitabilnost turizma koja ovisi o atraktivnosti destinacije koju ljudi žele posjetiti. Turizam zato mora očuvati i štiti okolinu, te njene prirodne i društvene atrakcije kako bi ljudi i dalje mogli putovati, zbog čega se u zadnje vrijeme sve više pažnje posvećuje zaštiti okoliša i prirodnih resursa. Upravo kao reakcija na trendove očuvanja okoliša i stvaranja potražnje za uslugama koje su ekološki osviještene dolazi do razvoja eko-hotela. Eko-hoteli su ekološki održivi hoteli koji su uveli značajna poboljšanja u zaštiti okoliša kako bi umanjili svoj utjecaj na prirodni okoliš. Samim tim slijede praksu zelenog življenja kako bi i budućim naraštajima kroz temelje održivog turizma omogućili uživanje u prirodnom okolišu bez zagađivanja. U ovom radu analizira se primjena eko-koncepata u poslovanju Hotela Villa Dvor, kao primjer dobre prakse.
Modern tourism is one of the most important and most dynamic socio-economic phenomena, and in the 21st century it takes place as one of the leading "industry" of the world. The sudden and uncontrolled development of tourism, this same space comes into danger, thus jeopardizing the survival and profitability of tourism, which depends on the attractiveness of the destination that people want to visit. Tourism therefore must preserve and protect the environment and its natural and social attractions so that people can still travel, which is why all the more attention is devoted to environmental protection and its natural resources. Just as a reaction to environmental conservation trends and the creation of demand for services that are ecologically conscious comes to the development of eco-hotel. Eco-hotels are ecologically sustainable hotels that have introduced significant improvements in environmental protection to reduce their impact on the natural environment. Thus, they follow the practice of green living in order for future generations through the foundations of sustainable tourism to enjoy the natural environment without pollution. This paper analyzes the application of eco-concepts in the business of Hotel Villa Dvor, as an example of good practice.