GREEN TOURISM: INCREASING THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF PROTECTED AREAS AND REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

In modern economic science and regional planning, green tourism (the ecotourism model) is no longer regarded merely as an alternative form of recreation. Today, it is a strategic economic instrument that monetizes natural capital without destroying it. Its role is particularly significant in regions with protected areas (national parks, nature reserves, and managed reserves), where legislation restricts traditional industrial or agricultural activities. The following section provides an extensive structural analysis of the economic mechanisms of green tourism, regional development models, and contemporary challenges.