The Impact of Tourism on The Environment

Tourism, as one of the fastest growing economic sectors, has an increasingly strong impact on the environment, especially in countries with rich natural resources such as the Republic of Croatia. Although tourism contributes to economic development, employment, and the promotion of local communities, it also causes a number of environmental problems, including pollution, spatial degradation, excessive construction, and biodiversity loss. The problems need to be understood and preventively addressed with the aim of longterm benefits for nature and the environment, as well as for future generations. The aim of this paper is to analyze the impact of tourism on the environment in Croatia through the prism of sustainability and the legal framework. The research is based on a qualitative analysis of relevant scientific and professional literature, legal regulations and existing statistical indicators. Special emphasis is placed on the role of protected areas and on integrating ecological criteria into spatial planning and tourism development. The paper concludes that sustainable tourism development is possible only through a balanced cooperationbetween economic benefits and the protection of natural resources, with the legislative framework playing a key role. Guidelines for improving existing practices are proposed, including stricter enforcement of regulations, stakeholder education, and strategic spatial management.