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ABSTRACT
Danube Delta is one of the most important tourist regions of Romania, by the original landscape (relief, water, vegetation, fauna, population and human settlements). Tourism can be a serious threat to ecological conservation of the Delta ecosystem. There is already a high level of nonsustainble tourism in the delta, which puts pressure on the natural system. Applying current principles of sustainable tourism development in natural areas has led to considering ecotourism as a distinctive form of travel, designed to respect the integrity of natural landscapes, ecological biodiversity, in accordance with the requirements of certain segments of tourists, who want to spend their holidays in nature .
KEYWORDS
Sustainable tourism, ecotourism, Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, biodiversity conservation
INTRODUCTION
Tourism has grown more pronounced in recent years, this expansion taking place along with the growing impact on population and environment. In this context, studies have focused on a way to grow without jeopardizing the environment, sustainability dimension being attached to the notion of tourism. Thus emerged the concept of sustainable tourism, starting with the need to protect natural capital, social, cultural and also maintaining tourist satisfaction.( Bran,F. et al. 1998)
But the two concepts, sustainable tourism and ecotourism are not the same, ecotourism being considered a part of sustainable tourism.(figure1)
One of the first definitions of ecotourism found in the literature is from 1988, where the Program in Belize initiated the Rio Bravo Conservation & Management Area: "Ecotourism is a form of tourism with low environmental impact, based on assessing it and where is made a conscious effort to reinvest a portion of income for conservation appropriate to rely on. It is a form of sustainable tourism that provides benefits to local people. "
International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1991 developed a succinct definition: "responsible travel to natural areas that preserve the environment and local population welfare support."
In 1996, the World Conservation Union formulated its own definition as follows: "Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas of relatively unspoiled environment, with the aim of assessing the nature (and any cultural attractions past and present) that promotes conservation, has low negative impact and ensure active involvement and brings socio-economic benefits for local people. "
1. ECOTOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN PROTECTED AREAS
With the new...