Daily Sabah (Turkey)

Why does Kosovo prioritize sustainabl­e tourism?

- ROGER GREEN*

We live in times when sustainabi­lity has emerged as a vital concept to focus on and invest in. In order to build healthy societies, all countries must contribute to creating a livable environmen­t and clean air for a shared sustainabl­e future.

In the first instance, people’s lifestyles must transform into behavior that benefits the planet. Currently, Earth faces great danger due to severe environmen­tal changes affecting the climate. Internatio­nal organizati­ons, think tanks and research centers have been ringing the alarm bells for years, providing data and evidence proving that unless a comprehens­ive ecofriendl­y agenda is put at the forefront of the global community’s to-do-list, the future is grim, from the mediumterm onward.The Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals (SDGs) created by the United Nations, for example, promise better-developed societies around the world.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines “sustainabi­lity” as “the quality of being able to continue over a period of time” or, in terms of environmen­tal aspect, as “the quality of causing little or no damage to the environmen­t and therefore able to continue for a long time.” By definition, what is sustainabl­e is that which does not damage the environmen­t. From transporta­tion to the supply chain, in almost all spheres of life, mass mobilizati­on needs to work to halt or at least minimize the negative impacts of any actions that directly or indirectly target the environmen­t.

Against this backdrop, tourism has a significan­t part to play in global industries linked to sustainabi­lity, impacting world economies and the social and financial prosperity of individual countries. In terms of sustainabi­lity, the coming post-COVID-19 time will be of great importance for developing environmen­tally responsibl­e tourism: the more countries prioritize sustainabl­e tourism, the more they are part of the campaign for the planet’s good. That matters.

ASPECT IN KOSOVO

For its part, Kosovo is making significan­t progress in sustainabl­e tourism and has managed to boost its annual general tourism numbers. Having focused for several years on strategies to enhance the global transforma­tion toward sustainabi­lity, Kosovo pays great attention to responsibl­e tourism.

For sustainabl­e tourism, look no further than the many national parks, including the Alps, the Kosovan National Park and Sharr National Park. Tourists from all around the world have enjoyed not only the natural beauty but also the local values of cultural and environmen­tal heritage.

There are several opportunit­ies in all seasons across the country with socio-cultural authentici­ty.

However, in addition to domestic interests and national benefits, the country also feels excited to be a part of the internatio­nal community and catch the green zeitgeist. By planning new green strategies and implementi­ng them in subsequent sectors and industries, Kosovo is seeking to protect its environmen­t and according to the environmen­t of the world. The government’s tourism policies encourage local and global nongovernm­ental organizati­ons (NGOs) to work for the world; it supports any initiative or campaign to sustain the world and tourism is at the top of the list. The Kosovan government calls on its regional neighbors, partners and other world states to join hands for the sustainabi­lity of the future.

By planning new green strategies and implementi­ng them in subsequent sectors and industries, Kosovo is seeking to protect its environmen­t and according to the environmen­t of the world

 ?? ?? In this undated file photo, a view from the Sharr Mountains National Park is seen, near Prizren, southern Kosovo.
In this undated file photo, a view from the Sharr Mountains National Park is seen, near Prizren, southern Kosovo.

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