| Abstract: |
Attendance and expansion growth rates in the territory make the tourism sector
of significant interest for the implementation of policies on environmental
protection at EU level. The need to protect local natural heritage, to
integrate the development policies of the tourism industry with other sectors
that characterize a given territory, and to enhance environmental performance
in key local tourist industry are some of the priorities that may appear
conflicting at times. This paper describes a method of analysis and planning
coordinated and shared across territories likely to promote potential
directives of local governance, being integrated and oriented towards the
sustainable development of the area, by then analysing their adoptability and
effectiveness in diverse contexts. The project INTER.ECO.TUR., co-financed by
the European Commission under the EU's INTERREG III-C, provided the case study
- used for this research purpose - useful to analyzing the dynamics of
sustainable tourism development within the European Mediterranean area. The
debate of its results offers evidence on the possibility to develop such a
governance process effectively, providing a thorough an assessment methodology
enriched by a clear-cut analysis of its applied experiences. |