TOURISM DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY OF RURAL AREAS
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY OF RURAL AREAS

Summary/Abstract: Sustainable tourism may be regarded most basically as the application of the sustainable development idea to the tourism sector. Essentially, sustainable tourism involves the minimization of negative impacts and the maximization of positive impacts. The development of sustainable rural tourism has become a priority of national tourism policies and / or strategies in many countries. Ecotourism is the ideal model of sustainable tourism. It involves an emphasis on nature- based attractions, educational interactions with these attractions and management practices that make every reasonable effort to achieve environmentally and socio-culturally sustainable outcomes. Ecotourism is advanced as a strategy to help address economic and social problems in local communities and as an appropriate and effective tool of environmental conservation. Each approach has its strengths and weaknesses, depending on circumstances typical for the particular case and type of tourism that is being developed. Impact analysis, increased community awareness and involvement in the decision – making process are the key future issues that must be addressed. For the credibility of ecotourism as the conscience of sustainable tourism to be established and maintained, it is necessary to implement a modified comprehensive ecotourism model that embraces both hard and soft ecotourism. In according to Tourism Development Strategy of Albania, the tourism must be developed in a way that is sustainable: culturally, socially, environmentally and economically. Referring to the analysis of the present situation and development toward the future for Korca’s rural areas, ecotourism and familiar tourism are most appropriate types.

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