Analysis of ecological tourism in the European union: strategic guidelines for development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26661/2522-1566/2025-3/33-01Keywords:
ecological tourism, European Union, strategic guidelines, developmentAbstract
The purpose of the article is to identify the key factors that determine the dynamics of ecotourism development in the European Union and to define strategic guidelines for the formation of an effective regional policy in this area. The methodological basis of the study is formed by general scientific and special methods of economic theory, in particular, statistical and information reports of the EU, IMARC Group and Booking.com on sustainable travel and ecotourism. Research results: The identified behavioural changes after COVID-19, regional and demographic differences in tourist preferences, as well as the level of information availability, allowed us to formulate strategic guidelines for the development of ecotourism in the EU. Factor analysis has confirmed that the success of ecotourism is significantly influenced by such factors as the availability of financial support, digitalisation of tourism services, certification of services, infrastructure accessibility and the level of environmental awareness. The proposed strategic guidelines can enhance the effectiveness of sustainable tourism policy through support for local businesses, personalised communication campaigns, and increased transparency of environmental standards. The results of the study can be used to develop regional roadmaps for ecotourism development, optimise the use of European programmes (Interreg, LIFE, Horizon Europe, ERDF), and intensify cluster development in the tourism sector. For Ukraine, which has suffered significant losses in ecotourism due to the war, the study provides a methodological basis for assessing the potential of regions, identifying priorities for post-war recovery and integration into the EU green space. The application of the factor approach will ensure the validity of management decisions in the field of sustainable tourism.
JEL Classification: Q 1, Q 26, L 83, R 58.
References
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Ecotourism statistics of 2024. (2024). Underdog Traveling. URL: https://underdog-traveling.com/sustainable-travel/ecotourism-statistics-2024/ [in English].
Ecotourism Market Report 2025 (Global Edition). (2025). Cognitive Market Research. URL: https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com/ecotourism-market-report [in English].
Khytra, O. V. (2022). Brendynh turyzmu v ekonomitsi dosvidu [Tourism branding in the experience economy]. Economy and Society, (42). https://doi.org/10.32782/2524-0072/2022-42-64 [in Ukrainian].
Zamula, I. V., & Kyryliuk, D. R. (2023). Rozvytok ekolohichnoho turyzmu v Ukraini [Development of ecological tourism in Ukraine]. Economy, Management and Administration, 2(104), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.26642/ema-2023-2(104)-3-9 [in Ukrainian].
Smochko, N., Luzhanska, T., & Piatka, N. (2022). Rol ekolohichnoho turyzmu v konteksti perspektyvnoho terytorialnoho rozvytku [The role of ecological tourism in the context of prospective territorial development]. Economic Forum, 1(4), 58–67. https://doi.org/10.36910/6775-2308-8559-202 [in Ukrainian].
Myronov, Yu. B. (2024). Dosvid krain Zakhidnoi Yevropy u rozvytku turyzmu na terytoriiakh pryrodno-zapovidnoho fondu [Experience of Western European countries in tourism development in protected areas]. Entrepreneurship and Trade, (43), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1256-2024-43-08 [in Ukrainian].
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Zamula, I. V., Travin, V. V., & Kyryliuk, D. R. (2023). Povoiennyi rozvytok ekoturyzmu v Ukraini: natsionalnyi ta mizhnarodnyi dosvid [Post-war development of ecotourism in Ukraine: National and international experience]. Economy, Management and Administration, 2(104), 10–17. https://doi.org/10.26642/ema-2023-2(104)-10-17 [in Ukrainian].
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But, T., Mamotenko, D., Lnenicka, L., Pulina, T., & Zidová, V. (2023). A conceptual model for creating smart cities in Czechia based on smart specialization. Scientific Papers of the University of Pardubice, 31(2), 1736. https://doi.org/10.46585/sp31021736 [in English].
Analitychnyi zvit naukovoi doslidzhennia “Analitychne doslidzhennia vtrat industrii turyzmu vid viiny v Ukraini” (NTOU, 2024) [Analytical Report of the Scientific Research Work “Analytical Study of the Losses of the Tourism Industry from the War in Ukraine” (NTOU, 2024)]. URL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uq52wuinDqU4zYMdqbMzXbuEhvYFuKN2/view [in Ukrainian].
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5. Замула І. В., Кирилюк Д. Р. Розвиток екологічного туризму в Україні. Економіка, управління та адміністрування. 2023. № 2(104). С. 3–9. URL: https://doi.org/10.26642/ema-2023-2(104)-3-9 (дата звернення: 13.06.2025).
6. Смочко Н., Лужанська Т., П’ятка Н. Роль екологічного туризму в контексті перспективного розвитку територій. Економічний форум. 2022. Т. 1, № 4. С. 58–67. URL: https://doi.org/10.36910/6775-2308-8559-2022-4-7 (дата звернення: 13.06.2025).
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17. A Conceptual Model for Creating Smart Cities in Czechia Based on Smart Specialization / T. But et al. Scientific Papers of the University of Pardubice, Series D: Faculty of Economics and Administration. 2023. Vol. 31, no. 2. URL: https://doi.org/10.46585/sp31021736 (date of access: 13.06.2025).
18. Аналітичний звіт з науково-дослідної роботи «Аналітичне дослідження втрат туристичної індустрії від війни в Україні» (НТОУ, 2024). URL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uq52wuinDqU4zYMdqbMzXbuEhvYFuKN2/view (дата звернення: 13.06.2024).
19. But T. Identification of problems and post-war recovery of tourism in Ukraine. Management and Entrepreneurship: Trends of Development. 2024. Vol. 1, no. 27. P. 32–43. URL: https://doi.org/10.26661/2522-1566/2024-1/27-03 (date of access: 13.06.2025).
REFERENCES (TRANSLATED AND TRANSLITERATED)
Ecotourism Market − Global Industry Analysis And Forecast (2025–2032). (2025). Maximize Market Research. URL: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/global-ecotourism-market/147136/ [in English].
Ecotourism statistics of 2024. (2024). Underdog Traveling. URL: https://underdog-traveling.com/sustainable-travel/ecotourism-statistics-2024/ [in English].
Ecotourism Market Report 2025 (Global Edition). (2025). Cognitive Market Research. URL: https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com/ecotourism-market-report [in English].
Khytra, O. V. (2022). Brendynh turyzmu v ekonomitsi dosvidu [Tourism branding in the experience economy]. Economy and Society, (42). https://doi.org/10.32782/2524-0072/2022-42-64 [in Ukrainian].
Zamula, I. V., & Kyryliuk, D. R. (2023). Rozvytok ekolohichnoho turyzmu v Ukraini [Development of ecological tourism in Ukraine]. Economy, Management and Administration, 2(104), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.26642/ema-2023-2(104)-3-9 [in Ukrainian].
Smochko, N., Luzhanska, T., & Piatka, N. (2022). Rol ekolohichnoho turyzmu v konteksti perspektyvnoho terytorialnoho rozvytku [The role of ecological tourism in the context of prospective territorial development]. Economic Forum, 1(4), 58–67. https://doi.org/10.36910/6775-2308-8559-202 [in Ukrainian].
Myronov, Yu. B. (2024). Dosvid krain Zakhidnoi Yevropy u rozvytku turyzmu na terytoriiakh pryrodno-zapovidnoho fondu [Experience of Western European countries in tourism development in protected areas]. Entrepreneurship and Trade, (43), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1256-2024-43-08 [in Ukrainian].
Zavaryka, H. M., Zelenko, O. O., & Shvetsova, O. V. (2023). Rozvytok ekolohichnoho turyzmu v umovakh hlobalnykh vyklykiv [Development of ecological tourism under global challenges]. Economy and Society, (57). https://doi.org/10.32782/2524-0072/2023-57-95 [in Ukrainian].
Krasnokurska, Yu. V., Seheda, I. V., & Bezpalova, A. S. (2023). Povoienne vidnovlennia industrii turyzmu Ukrainy v konteksti staloho rozvytku [Post-war recovery of the tourism industry of Ukraine in the context of sustainable development]. Economy and Society, (56). https://doi.org/10.32782/2524-0072/2023-56-88 [in Ukrainian].
Zamula, I. V., Travin, V. V., & Kyryliuk, D. R. (2023). Povoiennyi rozvytok ekoturyzmu v Ukraini: natsionalnyi ta mizhnarodnyi dosvid [Post-war development of ecotourism in Ukraine: National and international experience]. Economy, Management and Administration, 2(104), 10–17. https://doi.org/10.26642/ema-2023-2(104)-10-17 [in Ukrainian].
Eurobarometer. Language selection. (2024). European Union. URL: https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2283 [in English].
EU budget 2025 – an investment in Europeans. (2025). Socialists and Democrats. URL: https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/publications/eu-budget-2025-investment-europeans [in English].
But, T., Mamotenko, D., Korniienko, O., & Gubar, O. (2025). Financial assurance for tourism development and its impact on the economy of European countries. In: Semenov, A., Yepifanova, I., & Kajanová, J. (Eds.), Data-Centric Business and Applications (Vol. 240, pp. 63–80). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81557-7_4 [in English].
Empowering Sustainable Tourism: Funding opportunities supporting SMEs to obtain the EU Ecolabel certification or EMAS registration. (2023). Green Forum. URL: https://green-forum.ec.europa.eu/news/empowering-sustainable-tourism-funding-opportunities-supporting-smes-obtain-eu-ecolabel-2023-12-20_en [in English].
Recovery and Resilience Facility. (2024). European Commission. URL: https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility_en [in English].
Booking.com. Sustainable Travel Report 2024. (2024). Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). URL: https://www.gstc.org/booking-sustainable-travel-report-2024/ [in English].
But, T., Mamotenko, D., Lnenicka, L., Pulina, T., & Zidová, V. (2023). A conceptual model for creating smart cities in Czechia based on smart specialization. Scientific Papers of the University of Pardubice, 31(2), 1736. https://doi.org/10.46585/sp31021736 [in English].
Analitychnyi zvit naukovoi doslidzhennia “Analitychne doslidzhennia vtrat industrii turyzmu vid viiny v Ukraini” (NTOU, 2024) [Analytical Report of the Scientific Research Work “Analytical Study of the Losses of the Tourism Industry from the War in Ukraine” (NTOU, 2024)]. URL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uq52wuinDqU4zYMdqbMzXbuEhvYFuKN2/view [in Ukrainian].
But, T. (2024). Identification of problems and post-war recovery of tourism in Ukraine. Management and Entrepreneurship: Trends of Development. https://doi.org/10.26661/2522-1566/2024-1/27-03 [in English].
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Published
2025-10-20
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Economics
How to Cite
Mamotenko, D. and But, T. (2025) “Analysis of ecological tourism in the European union: strategic guidelines for development”, Management and Entrepreneurship: Trends of Development, 3(33), pp. 10–27. doi:10.26661/2522-1566/2025-3/33-01.
