DEVELOPMENT PRESSURES AND SUSTAINABILITY: A LOCAL COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE-EVIDENCE FROM KOTOR

Abstract

The development of tourism in modern conditions, especially in destinations of exceptional cultural and historical value, is increasingly accompanied by a series of challenges arising from the growth in the number of visitors and their concentration in limited space and time. In addition to infrastructural pressures, an increasingly pronounced challenge is the preservation of resources and the spatial-cultural values of the destination. Cultural heritage cannot be viewed only through material resources, but also through intangible dimensions that shape the sense of belonging and social relations. Cultural identity and authenticity do not represent static categories, but are shaped through everyday practices and the experience of space, which is why intensive tourist flows can lead to their redefinition, but also their degradation. These processes are particularly evident in Kotor, a city under UNESCO protection, where the concentration of tourist flows in a spatially limited historical core generates pressures reflected in the cultural structure and the everyday functioning of the city. Within this context, the perception of the local population represents an important framework for understanding the actual effects of tourism development. This paper examines the perception of the local community regarding the impact of tourism development on cultural identity, authenticity, and the atmosphere of space, as well as on the use of cultural heritage. The research was conducted on a sample of 321 respondents using a structured questionnaire, while the data analysis was carried out using the chi-square test of independence. The results indicate that a higher intensity of tourism development is associated with a more pronounced perception of a threat to cultural identity, degradation of authenticity, and changes in the cultural atmosphere of the city. At the same time, the majority of respondents recognize the commercialization of cultural heritage as a pronounced process, indicating a shift in its function and meaning in contemporary tourism flows. Although certain dimensions (communal order and concern for the preservation of UNESCO status) are not statistically related to the intensity of tourism, they are recognized as problematic, pointing to broader and more complex patterns of perception within the local community. In addition, there is a perception that tourism pressures alter the function of cultural heritage and create a sense of insecurity regarding the future preservation of the city’s values. Overall, the findings indicate the need for balanced and strategically oriented management of tourism development. Such an approach implies the improvement of management mechanisms and the active involvement of the local community in decision-making processes. In this regard, tourism policies should be directed towards preserving cultural values, authenticity, and the long-term sustainability of the destination.