Sustainable Tourism Development: From Conceptual Phenomenon to Practical Unravelling

We live in a time that does not give us the privilege or the right to make wrong decisions about the direction of development in general and the development of tourism in particular. Whether we discuss the causes of the sustainability imbalance or focus on the consequences of unsustainable tourism development, ultimately the debate boils down to one fundamental question—where do we go from here? Although the concept of sustainable tourism development, as we interpret and use it, is rational and fairly straightforward at its core, it is not without its flaws. Otherwise we would not be confronted with the enormous consequences of unsustainable development in certain destinations. Taking all these aspects into account, this chapter analyses the theoretical implications of sustainable tourism development and identifies the main challenges that the concept has had to face over the last decade. By discussing the process of measuring sustainable tourism development, the benefits and obstacles of this process are addressed. By identifying possible policy responses to unbalanced development, an attempt is made to determine how destinations can adapt to the changing environment.