Importance of applying sustainable tourism development concept in the city of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik – „biser Jadrana“ – jedan je od predvodnika hrvatskog turizma. Zbog svoje iznimne ljepote, povoljne klime i kulturne baštine stekao je planetarnu popularnost. Međutim, ta popularnost posljednjih godina, Dubrovnik je suočila s problemom masovnog turizma što posljedično, zbog prometne i infrastrukturne ograničenosti, dovodi do prekomjernog iskorištavanja dostupnih turističkih resursa. Rast i razvoj bitne su ekonomske stavke svake destinacije. Međutim, pri razvoju destinacije valja voditi računa o okolišu ali i nasljeđu za buduće generacije. Stoga se javlja pitanje o važnosti primjene koncepta održivog razvoja turizma. Kreiranje strategija razvoja i njihova implementacija od iznimne su važnosti za Grad Dubrovnik. Život lokalnog stanovništva ali i iskustvo posjetitelja ovisi upravo o primjeni tih, za Dubrovnik, važnih dokumenata.Dubrovnik – „Pearl of Adriatic“ – is one of the leaders of Croatian tourism. Due to its exceptional beauty, favorable climate and cultural heritage, it acquired worldwide popularity. In the recent years, however, this popularity has pushed Dubrovnik’s touristic admittance to its traffic-wide and infrastructural limits, leading to massive overexploitation of its available touristic resources. Growth and development are important economic factors of every tourist destination. However, when it comes to developing a touristic destination, it is important to take its environment, as well as its future generations legacy into consideration. This poses a question about the importance of sustainable tourism development. Creating development strategies and integrating them is of utmost importance for the town of Dubrovnik. The life of local population as well as the visitors experience depends exactly on the application of these, for Dubrovnik, highly important documents