Sustainable Tourism for Blue Growth

Blue Economy has emerged as a comprehensive development paradigm that advocates for the sustainable use of ocean resources to drive economic growth, improve livelihoods, and maintain healthy marine ecosystems. This paper examines the capacity of sustainable tourism to function as a transformative mechanism within the Blue Economy, fostering ecosystem regeneration rather than degradation. Using the Croatian coastal region as a case study, the research examines the degree of alignment between sustainable tourism principles and Blue Economy objectives. A mixed-methods research design was adopted, integrating an extensive literature review with a structured stakeholder survey across key blue economy sectors. Data were analyzed through SWOT analysis and validated via focus group discussions. The results indicate that, although the blue economy provides a comprehensive framework for sustainable tourism development, there exists a substantial knowledge gap among stakeholders regarding sustainable practices. The study underscores the necessity of developing an integrated strategic framework that harmonizes sustainable tourism and Blue Economy principles, alongside enhancing stakeholder education and capacity-building initiatives to facilitate resilient, long-term development. Keywords: Sustainable tourism development, Blue Economy, stakeholder perceptions, policy recommendations, Croatia