engleski

PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION

Tourism, due to its size and interconnectedness with many parts of the society and the economy, can be a powerful driver for the transition from the dominant, linear economic development model to a more responsible one. The concept of sustainable tourism is usually considered as a proper paradigm for the proposed transition. The aim of the paper was to point out the importance of higher education institutions in promoting sustainable tourism development. The paper reflects on development of the sustainable tourism concept and considers the higher education institutions’ responsibility concerning co-creation of responsible tourists and responsible tourism managers. Empirical research was aimed to analyse students’ perceptions and attitudes regarding sustainable tourism. The research was realized at the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Croatia on a sample of 311 regular students from three departments (Faculty of Economics and Tourism “Dr. Mijo Mirković”, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Faculty of Interdisciplinary, Italian and Cultural Studies). The research has confirmed that students are generally acquainted with the sustainable tourism concept, but they don't recognize its potential and importance for overall economic development neither their role and potential as responsible tourists. Sustainable tourism is usually perceived as being very difficult to be realized, expensive and unattractive, which can be explained with insufficient inclusion of relevant subjects in the study curriculum. The research has confirmed students’ readiness to get more deeply acquainted with the sustainable tourism concept and to develop necessary skills and acquire values which could guide them towards ethically responsible behaviour in their future. Considering that the necessary preconditions which are required for tourism leaders of tomorrow such critical thinking, reflection, problem solving, innovation and creativity, the authors recognize the need for introduction of topics related to sustainability issues through all educational levels, with special emphasis on higher education

sustainable-tourism ; responsible-behaviour ; higher-education-institutions ; students ; Croatia

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