Management and Education

Management
In modern tourism, sustainability is no longer a choice but a standard. An increasing number of destinations and tourism facilities use eco-labels and certificates to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection, responsible resource management, and high service quality.

Today, there are more than 200 different eco-labels in tourism worldwide, which further highlights the importance of recognizable and credible certification systems.
Sustainable tourism management is accomplished by implementing some of the eco-labels, such as the EU Ecolabel (example Terme sv. Martin). It is the official eco-label of the European Union, used to mark “green” products and services—those that have a lower negative impact on the environment throughout their life cycle compared to similar products and services.

Information about the eco-label and the steps required to obtain certification are available on the website of the Ministry of Economy (MINGOR): EU Ecolabel MINGOR

EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) is an environmental management tool established by the European Commission to help organisations improve their environmental performance. With the help of EMAS, organisations working in the tourism sector are able to offer eco-friendly alternatives to conventional travel: EMAS for Sustainable Tourism

ISO 14001 or other tourism standards from the ISO standards family require continuity in monitoring and achieving environmental excellence, which is a key precondition for managing the development of sustainable tourism.
Some of the most widely recognized international certifications include: Green Globe,  a global certification that covers a wide range of sustainable tourism practices—from hotels to entire destinations, and

Green Key  one of the  leading certification in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry  
Furthermore, certificates that confirm the quality of natural resources are also important, for example, the Blue Flag or the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (ECST) that promotes sustainable tourism in European protected areas. In Croatia, 78 beaches and 33 marinas are certified with a blue flag.
The management of sustainable development of tourism lays on data and measurable indicators. That is why a multi-year project CROSTO - Croatian sustainable tourism observatory has been initiated on chosen locations to inform stakeholders and the interested public.


Education
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has been conducting workshops since October 2022 under the theme “Strengthening the Resilience of Tourism to Climate Change.”
These workshops are organized with the aim of increasing awareness and knowledge among all tourism stakeholders about the importance of implementing binding European guidelines related to preparing tourism infrastructure for climate change. In addition to climate adaptation topics, the workshops also cover environmental certification in tourism.
More information about the workshops can be found on the official website: Workshops: Strengthening the Resilience of Tourism to Climate Change