TOURISM IMPACT MODELS AS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING TOOLS FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES

Abstract

Tourism is considered by the local inhabitants and businesses as an activity that could bring economic development to a very isolated and underdeveloped area such as the Danube Delta, UNESCO protected natural wetland. The aim of this study is to propose the Tourism Impact Model (TIM) as a tool that could be used by the local and regional authorities in managing tourism in such fragile ecosystems so that to maximise its positive effects while the honeypot sites of the delta to attract tourists without provoking irreparable damage to the environment. The results of the TIM analysis applied for Sfântu Gheorghe commune, Romania, evidence that the Danube Delta is under tourism pressure and at high risk of surpassing its human carrying capacity. The conclusions of the analysis show that TIM could be a very useful administrative and policy supporting tool in sustainable development governance if data collection improves in the future.