Europa Regionum

The concept of sustainable development has emerged as a response to the destruction and pollution of the environment in the 70 twentieth of XX century. The paper presents the documents – usually taking the form of strategies (regional or thematic) at the international and national – that are the basis taken in this regard activities, especially those relating to tourism as a sector of the economy inextricably linked to the natural resources, economy and society. When developing and implementing the strategy, it is important to define the objectives and priorities reflect the socio-economic and natural heritage of the area while taking into account the experience with the implementation of policies and strategies for sustainable development in other countries and regions of the world, and the appropriate placement and protection of the interests of national/regional, which are important for the development of society and the economy. On the basis of the adopted documents they are carried out activities to strengthen the role of tourism as an important factor for the development of the whole region. The paper presents the concept of sustainable tourism, corresponding with the idea of sustainable development. In the paper the analysis of policies and programs affecting the development and implementation of the concept of sustainable tourism.