Conference Agenda

The largest integrated karst area in Carpatho - Balkanides Mt. in Eastern part of Serbia is area of Kučaj – Beljanica. Тhis massif is composed of two separate mountain units - in the north the limestone block of Beljanica, and in the south the vast Kučaj karst plain. According to the unique and rare geoheritage sites and phenomenon as well as rich biodiversity, evaluation criteria and procedure for proclamation of another Serbian national park was launched. The total protected area of international, national, that is, exceptional importance is 45,371.62 ha. Despite the rich natural phenomenon, population growth, composition and distribution are the most important factors of sustainable development of this area. Emigration, depopulation, low birth rates, and high levels of aging marginalize rural areas and put access to basic services at risk. The aim of the paper is to analyze multidimensional relationship between nature protection and straightening demographic potentials in order to achieve combine effects of preserving complex natural rarities and improvement of wellbeing of local communities through the activities related to specific touristic forms (ecotourism, geotourism, adventure tourism etc). This research will include extensive fieldwork with intensive participant observation and a series of structured and semi structured interviews with local population, government representatives, NGOs staff, and other stakeholders involved in the process of sustainable protection and development of rural areas. Final analysis will be complemented with the help of GIS methodology. The starting point of this research is to answer if adequate national protection of the geodiversity and biodiversity of Kučaj and Beljanica Mt. would enable the strengthening of socio-economic activities and sustainable development of local communities.

Rural tourism in Hungary has evolved significantly, driven by urban-to-rural relocations where individuals establish tourism ventures in village settings. These newcomers bring fresh perspectives, resources, and challenges, reshaping rural tourism dynamics. This presentation examines the transformative potential of rural tourism in three Hungarian cases, based on qualitative sociological research (semi-structured interviews and field research), to explore how sustainable tourism can emerge through collaboration and adaptation.

First, we introduce the historical development of rural tourism in these regions, each with unique geographic, cultural, and economic characteristics, analysing how past practices shape the present. Then we analyse the current tourism models, questioning whether a universal framework for sustainable rural tourism exists or if adaptive, context-specific approaches are necessary. A key focus is the role of community cooperation, examining how residents, newcomers, and stakeholders collaborate to balance economic, environmental, and social needs.

Research questions are:

• What motivates or discourages rural communities from engaging with tourism, and how do they perceive its impact?
• Can urban newcomers align their goals with local communities to achieve mutual benefits?
• What mechanisms can regulate tourism for long-term sustainability while resolving stakeholder conflicts?

Findings highlight that sustainable rural tourism offers significant development potential but requires inclusive, adaptive governance structures that prioritize dialogue and iterative decision-making. The case studies reveal both opportunities and limitations, demonstrating how tourism can drive socio-ecological transformation. By situating these local experiences within broader European tourism trends, the research contributes to critical discussions on sustainable tourism transitions, emphasizing the need for nuanced, community-centered approaches to rural development.

Current debates in tourism research highlight the tension between sustainability, the negative effects of ever-growing tourism and socio-economic and ecological contradictions that tourism brings with it in destinations. In this context, Mountaineering Villages in the Alps present themselves as destinations committed to sustainable tourism, aligning with the Alpine Convention’s goals to protect the natural environment of the Alps. These initiatives aspire to integrate tourism with nature conservation by preserving the character of alpine villages including their agricultural and socio-economic structures alongside the natural environment of the alpine mountains.

This contribution explores Mountaineering Village initiatives from the perspective of convivial conservation (Büscher & Fletcher, 2020). Convivial conservation critiques mainstream conservation due to its increasing dependence on market mechanisms and suggest a post-capitalist, socio-environmentally just alternative that overcomes the human-nature alienation, inherent in conventional approaches to conservation. In relation to tourism, understood as market-based instrument that commodifies natural spaces, the convivial approach means the promotion of areas for the creation of long-lasting and engaged human-nature relationships, which overcomes the natural imagination of untouched wilderness and celebrates everyday nature in the familiar environment, as well as the strengthening of democratic decision-making processes in the design of tourism.

Using a qualitative research method, including interviews with experts involved in the decision-making and design of the Mountaineering Villages, this study investigates to what extent the Mountaineering Village initiatives embody radical alternatives and whether they are able to overcome the contradictions of mainstream conservation or are simply another illustration of these contradiction. The convivial conservation framework provides valuable insights into advancing transformative approaches that challenge the root causes of socio-environmental crises affecting the Alps, tourism destinations, and broader societies.

Destination Management Organisations play a crucial role in enhancing residents’ quality of life, a key factor in fostering sustainable and competitive destinations. To achieve this, it is essential to place residents' voices at the forefront of policymaking, ensuring that tourism policies align with the community’s needs and expectations. Moreover, integrating residents’ perspectives into tourism planning and validation processes helps mitigate tourism’s negative impacts while amplifying its benefits. Measuring residents’ attitudes toward tourism development, therefore, becomes a pivotal step in enabling data-driven and community-centered decision-making.

While significant progress has been made in gathering data and developing simple indicators, there is a notable lack of experience in creating composite indicators (index) that provide a multidimensional and cohesive view of residents’ attitudes. This study addresses this gap by building an index to evaluate residents’ perceptions of tourism impacts, offering policymakers a tool to inform decisions.

The research was conducted in Andalusia, Spain. A total of 32 municipalities, representing high, medium, and low levels of tourism concentration across coastal, inland, and urban areas, were selected. In these locations, 3,200 residents participated in a survey that explored perceptions of tourism impacts. The collected data was used to develop a system of simple indicators, which were subsequently normalised, weighted, and aggregated into a single index.

Findings reveal that higher levels of tourism concentration are associated with more negative resident attitudes toward tourism. A deeper analysis highlights that in medium-concentration destinations, residents appreciate the positive economic impact of tourism on the local economy but express concerns about natural resource consumption, increased traffic, and insufficient parking availability. In high-concentration destinations, these concerns are compounded by housing affordability issues, although residents also acknowledge economic benefits, increased investment, and a wider range of leisure opportunities. Conversely, low-concentration destinations exhibit a more favorable perception of tourism, emphasizing its contributions to employment, the municipality’s image, and the availability of recreational activities. The paper concludes with reflections on the political and managerial implications of these findings, offering actionable insights for sustainable destination management.