The hotel industry role in tearms of achieving tourism destination sustainability: Challenges and best practices

The hotel industry plays a pivotal role in shaping the sustainability of tourism destinations, acting as a bridge between travelers and local communities. As destinations strive to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship, hotels stand at the forefront of this endeavor. They contribute not only to local economies through job creation and revenue generation but also have the capacity to implement sustainable practices that can significantly mitigate their environmental footprint. Furthermore, hotels can act as cultural ambassadors, promoting local heritage and attractions, thereby enriching the visitor experience. However, this transition towards sustainability is fraught with challenges, including high operational costs and resistance from various stakeholders. This paper will analyze the role of the hotel industry in achieving tourism destination sustainability, the challenges it faces, and best practices that exemplify how hotels can foster sustainable tourism.The results show that the majority of respondents (74.6%) support recycling workshops, which indicates a strong acceptance of initiatives aimed at protecting the environment, with no significant gender differences in attitudes. In addition, 54.4% fully support education on separating materials for composting and recycling, while 50.4% support the use of color-coded bins for waste sorting, which reflects a common awareness of the importance of proper waste management.