Author(s)

Z. Baros & L. Dávid

Abstract

As a consequence of the rapid growth of the tourism sector, special emphasis is placed on destinations and tourism products connected to or based on certain physical and environmental factors. However, the negative environmental consequences of tourism are, in many cases, overemphasised to the social and/or economic elements of sustainable development. Thus, it is important to find an adequate balance of the elements mentioned above within tourism development in order to achieve an optimal way of fulfilling all requirements of sustainable development. In order to do this, a potential method is introduced by applying the Sustainability Value Map, developed originally for buildings and urban development projects, to the evaluation of sustainable tourism products. This method gives rise to further questions concerning the selection of the right set of indicators and the importance of local or regional issues. Using it as a tool, it may promote the process of holistic tourism planning and development. Keywords: environmentalism, sustainable tourism, environmental impacts, Sustainability Value Map. 1 Introduction – sustainability in tourism and its aspects The term ‘sustainable development’, in the last decade of the 20th century, became widely used by governments, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and academia. Although, sustainable development is associated by many with issues like energy use, pollution and waste, they are now recognised as certain elements of sustainability, and the concept addresses three equally important issues: environment, economy and society [1].

Keywords

environmentalism, sustainable tourism, environmental impacts, Sustainability Value Map.