Contemporary Threats to the Development of Sustainable Urban Tourism
143
self-government organizations operating in a city, Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO) and other tourist organizations cooperating with the above mentioned
entities. The tourist offering of an urban destination consists of commercial services
offered by tourist enterprises (e.g. accommodation, catering, local transport, guidebooks) and by public entities alone or in cooperation with commercial entities. These
services may be of a market nature, but also may be provided on a non-profit basis
(e.g. tourist information, leisure services, cultural, entertainment, sports and recreational events) (Panasiuk 2014). The decisive part of non-profit services is available
to both city residents and tourists.
3 Sustainable City Tourism
The essence of sustainable development comes down to shaping development to
enable meeting today’s needs without limiting the opportunity for future generations
(Adamczyk and Nitkiewicz 2008). Therefore, the basis for sustainable development
is the development that meets the needs of modern times without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Issues of sustainable development refer directly to tourism, urban tourism in
particular, which through mass tourism and its constant global growth has a significant impact on the environment (Harris et al. 2012). Not only do high dynamics of
tourist traffic in urban destinations bring benefits associated with the improvement
of the quality of life while at the tourismsite, but they alsocreate dysfunctionin its
development particularly in relation to mass tourism. The issue of protection and
prevention of irreversible degradation of the natural environment and, above all,
natural tourist values, is of particular importance for the quality of life of tourism
receptionists and the tourists themselves.
The concept of sustainable tourism emerged as a result of research on the links
between tourism, environment and development. The basis of the concept of sustainable tourism is to achieve harmony between the needs of tourists, the environment
and local communities. Sustainable tourism refers to the broadly understood concept
of tourist development in an environmentally friendly way in tourist destinations
(Zar˛ eba 2006). Responsible and ethical tourism involves organizing tourist travel in
a way that ensures full responsibility for the changes caused in other people’s lives,
in their social, cultural and natural environment. It also means providing tourists
with better experiences and tourist companies with greater development opportunities (Pender and Sharpley 2008). According to the definition included in Agenda
21 for Travel and Tourism Economy, sustainable tourism is understood as one that
meets the needs of modern tourists and tourist destinations, while ensuring that these
needs can be met in the future (Kurek 2008).
The concept of sustainable tourism development refers primarily tothe determination of an acceptable increase in the volume of tourism, one that would not cause
negative changes in the environment, which in turn is crucial for the quality of life
in the future. It should be emphasized that sustainable tourism is not a type or form
143
self-government organizations operating in a city, Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO) and other tourist organizations cooperating with the above mentioned
entities. The tourist offering of an urban destination consists of commercial services
offered by tourist enterprises (e.g. accommodation, catering, local transport, guidebooks) and by public entities alone or in cooperation with commercial entities. These
services may be of a market nature, but also may be provided on a non-profit basis
(e.g. tourist information, leisure services, cultural, entertainment, sports and recreational events) (Panasiuk 2014). The decisive part of non-profit services is available
to both city residents and tourists.
3 Sustainable City Tourism
The essence of sustainable development comes down to shaping development to
enable meeting today’s needs without limiting the opportunity for future generations
(Adamczyk and Nitkiewicz 2008). Therefore, the basis for sustainable development
is the development that meets the needs of modern times without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Issues of sustainable development refer directly to tourism, urban tourism in
particular, which through mass tourism and its constant global growth has a significant impact on the environment (Harris et al. 2012). Not only do high dynamics of
tourist traffic in urban destinations bring benefits associated with the improvement
of the quality of life while at the tourismsite, but they alsocreate dysfunctionin its
development particularly in relation to mass tourism. The issue of protection and
prevention of irreversible degradation of the natural environment and, above all,
natural tourist values, is of particular importance for the quality of life of tourism
receptionists and the tourists themselves.
The concept of sustainable tourism emerged as a result of research on the links
between tourism, environment and development. The basis of the concept of sustainable tourism is to achieve harmony between the needs of tourists, the environment
and local communities. Sustainable tourism refers to the broadly understood concept
of tourist development in an environmentally friendly way in tourist destinations
(Zar˛ eba 2006). Responsible and ethical tourism involves organizing tourist travel in
a way that ensures full responsibility for the changes caused in other people’s lives,
in their social, cultural and natural environment. It also means providing tourists
with better experiences and tourist companies with greater development opportunities (Pender and Sharpley 2008). According to the definition included in Agenda
21 for Travel and Tourism Economy, sustainable tourism is understood as one that
meets the needs of modern tourists and tourist destinations, while ensuring that these
needs can be met in the future (Kurek 2008).
The concept of sustainable tourism development refers primarily tothe determination of an acceptable increase in the volume of tourism, one that would not cause
negative changes in the environment, which in turn is crucial for the quality of life
in the future. It should be emphasized that sustainable tourism is not a type or form