Tourism, Identity And Globalization

The paper shows how tourism has passed through several evolution phases in the last two centuries, transforming itself into one of the most universal phenomena of modern times. Today, it signifies a great space mobility, as a specific expression of new needs and ways of spending leisure for urban people outside their domicile. The contemporary development of tourism requires the increase of the fund of the recreational area. The relevant study of the interaction of tourism and its environment reveals many negative, aggressive forms of tourism from which various and very heavy consequences arise. Croatia, a country of exceptional natural values of its coast and islands, has not a very good perspective regarding the preservation of its specific tourist identity. Therefore, it needs a transformation through systematic conceiving its tourist policy and an ethical regulation of tourism. The danger of “losing identity†is decreased if the development of tourist facilities is directed according to the measure and taste of local people and if there is an effective and permanent protection of the quality and value of area resources and cultural heritage, relying on principles and guidelines published by relevant world organizations regarding a sustainable development of tourism.