There are a number of sustainable practices that a company can implement in its business and thus achieve a comparative market advantage with a certificate of environmental excellence. This type of business attracts tourist that are committed to reducing the impact on the environment and natural resources, and its added value is not only in concrete savings in business, but also in the promotion and variety of marketing tools.
Management
Sustainable tourism management is accomplished by implementing some of the eco-labels, such as the EU Ecolabel (example Terme sv. Martin); products and services available here and environmental management systems within the tourism business at a national, regional (county), and destination level.
Eco-label and environmental certificates such as European Destination of Excellency (EDEN), Global Sustainable Tourism Council - Green Globe, Green Key, Eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), ISO 14001, ISO/TS 13811 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.
Furthermore, certificates that confirm the quality of natural resources are also important, for example, the Blue and White flag or the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (ECST) that promotes sustainable tourism in European protected areas. In Croatia, 53 beaches and 26 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, while the number of such projects increase year after year.
Education
The reform C 1.6. of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan that will ensure the development of a sustainable, innovative and resilient tourism was used to create and publish educational materials.
Here you can find some examples of good practice in tourism projects that focus on green and digital transition.
An example of educational material that aims to implement circular economy and manages food waste flows is available here.
There are a number of projects that result in educational material and green tourism ideas.