Sustainable Development and Leisure Services: Changes and Trends
9
of tourism (Gershuny 2000). Sustainable development means the integration of all
segments of development, which are related to economic, social and environmental
categories. Man’s pressure on nature has grown to such an extent that loud warnings
of uncontrolled economic development at the expense of the environment could be
heard in the mid-twentieth century. The main cause of environmental problems was,
and remains, a modern industry, since the tendency for its development was counterenvironmental (Markovi´ c et al. 2014). Tourism and the consequences of tourism
activities certainly have a large share in this.
With the increase of leisure, earnings and the emergence of new fashion trends,
more and more Europeans go on vacation each year. The adventurous spirit, as well
as the increasing demand for trips that involve outdoor activities and cultural and
recreational activities, are increasing in modern tourists (Kerr and Houge Mackenzie
2012; Lynch and Dibben 2016; Houge Mackenzie and Brymer 2020; Lee and Ewert
2019). Most tourists avoid destinations where the environment is disturbed (Kasser
2009). All major fast-growing industries can have negative impacts on the natural
environment, and tourism is no exception. This sector is not only expanding, but
also changing the way tourists travel. A growing trend is that people are increasingly
going on shorter vacations, as well as traveling further and further away from their
homes. Tourism accounts for about 50% of passenger traffic in Europe, which has
serious consequences for both tourist destinations and areas along the tourist corridor
(Holden 2007). Natural resources and local infrastructure are often at odds with the
drastic increase in the number of people during the tourist season (Love Travel
2020a).
Current trends in leisure activities include outdoor activities in protected natural
areas or in rural areas, indoor activities and recreation, as well as enjoyment of cultural
amenities (Davidson and Stebbins 2011; Rosa et al. 2019). The increase in the number
of people pursuing their leisure activities in nature has also increased concerns for
environmental conservation and the actualization of sustainable development in the
face of widespread pollution of air, water and land, deforestation, fires, floods and
other disasters that have long-term consequences on the climate of our planet (Marafa
2018).
This is why the concepts of ecotourism, sustainable tourism, green tourism, naturebased tourism, low carbon tourism, sustainable development and other terms have
become dominant in the literature on leisure activities which mainly take place in
nature (Wearing and Neil 1999; Page and Dowling 2002; Fennell 2003; Honey 2008;
Lee and Jan 2019).
The goal of sustainable development in leisure activities is aimed at meeting the
needs of tourists in naturally preserved areas. Therefore, it is not uncommon that in
the EU countries the ultimate destination for travel and relaxation is protected areas.
Visitors cite ‘clean air’, ‘clean water’, and ‘feel the nature’ as the basic motive for
traveling to protected areas. Typically, for German tourists who drive, these motives
rank high in third place (Revermann and Petermann 2002).
Some authors place emphasis on rural tourism and farm tourism (Bernard 1994;
Beus 2008) as forms of tourism that contribute to making the visitors become aware of
the environment and environmentally friendly, thus contributing to the development
9
of tourism (Gershuny 2000). Sustainable development means the integration of all
segments of development, which are related to economic, social and environmental
categories. Man’s pressure on nature has grown to such an extent that loud warnings
of uncontrolled economic development at the expense of the environment could be
heard in the mid-twentieth century. The main cause of environmental problems was,
and remains, a modern industry, since the tendency for its development was counterenvironmental (Markovi´ c et al. 2014). Tourism and the consequences of tourism
activities certainly have a large share in this.
With the increase of leisure, earnings and the emergence of new fashion trends,
more and more Europeans go on vacation each year. The adventurous spirit, as well
as the increasing demand for trips that involve outdoor activities and cultural and
recreational activities, are increasing in modern tourists (Kerr and Houge Mackenzie
2012; Lynch and Dibben 2016; Houge Mackenzie and Brymer 2020; Lee and Ewert
2019). Most tourists avoid destinations where the environment is disturbed (Kasser
2009). All major fast-growing industries can have negative impacts on the natural
environment, and tourism is no exception. This sector is not only expanding, but
also changing the way tourists travel. A growing trend is that people are increasingly
going on shorter vacations, as well as traveling further and further away from their
homes. Tourism accounts for about 50% of passenger traffic in Europe, which has
serious consequences for both tourist destinations and areas along the tourist corridor
(Holden 2007). Natural resources and local infrastructure are often at odds with the
drastic increase in the number of people during the tourist season (Love Travel
2020a).
Current trends in leisure activities include outdoor activities in protected natural
areas or in rural areas, indoor activities and recreation, as well as enjoyment of cultural
amenities (Davidson and Stebbins 2011; Rosa et al. 2019). The increase in the number
of people pursuing their leisure activities in nature has also increased concerns for
environmental conservation and the actualization of sustainable development in the
face of widespread pollution of air, water and land, deforestation, fires, floods and
other disasters that have long-term consequences on the climate of our planet (Marafa
2018).
This is why the concepts of ecotourism, sustainable tourism, green tourism, naturebased tourism, low carbon tourism, sustainable development and other terms have
become dominant in the literature on leisure activities which mainly take place in
nature (Wearing and Neil 1999; Page and Dowling 2002; Fennell 2003; Honey 2008;
Lee and Jan 2019).
The goal of sustainable development in leisure activities is aimed at meeting the
needs of tourists in naturally preserved areas. Therefore, it is not uncommon that in
the EU countries the ultimate destination for travel and relaxation is protected areas.
Visitors cite ‘clean air’, ‘clean water’, and ‘feel the nature’ as the basic motive for
traveling to protected areas. Typically, for German tourists who drive, these motives
rank high in third place (Revermann and Petermann 2002).
Some authors place emphasis on rural tourism and farm tourism (Bernard 1994;
Beus 2008) as forms of tourism that contribute to making the visitors become aware of
the environment and environmentally friendly, thus contributing to the development