STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT ON THE EXAMPLE OF KOZARA NATIONAL PARK

Abstract

The sustainable development of tourism represents a positive approach in development, its intentions are to reduce the discrepancies that arise in the relations between the tourism industry, local communities, the environment and tourists. Protected areas, and especially national parks, are important tourist destinations. The principles of sustainable tourism help managers to organize and improve the areas they manage. In this sense, the strategic approach of sustainable development of tourism represents the aspiration of management structures to launch initiatives that will not degrade natural resources. Of particular importance in the development of tourist destinations are their elements and attractive factors, on the basis of which their further development and organization is directed. The concept of sustainable development, as the most important challenge and task at the beginning of the 21st century, should be based on an integral holistic approach, which implies the mutual connection of all factors that participate in the development of tourism. In modern business conditions, it is necessary to improve the management of tourist areas, with the aim of preserving them, as well as improving the quality of development. This implies the definition of indicators that ensure the measurement of various economic, physical and sociocultural impacts, which originate from tourism. The success of the operation of the “Kozara” National Park depends on quality strategic management, i.e., formation of strategic harmony between the destination’s resources, on the one hand, and threats and opportunities, on the other. The aim of this paper is to point out the need to apply strategic management of sustainable development of tourism in the National Park “Kozara”, and to define an adequate strategy to ensure the effectiveness of the National Park “Kozara” as a protected tourist destination.