Community perspectives on sustainable cultural heritage tourism: the case of Stari Ras and Sopoćani, Serbia

Residents' place attachment, environmental awareness, and community participation significantly influence their support for sustainable tourism and cultural heritage conservation at Stari Ras and Sopoćani, Serbia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A quota-purposive sampling approach combined with structural equation modeling revealed that these factors, alongside economic benefits and community satisfaction, play crucial roles in shaping local attitudes toward preservation efforts. The study provides actionable insights for policymakers and heritage managers to foster community involvement and sustainable development in protected areas.

Obradović Strålman, S. (2026). Community perspectives on sustainable cultural heritage tourism: the case of Stari Ras and Sopoćani, Serbia. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 21(4), 429–446. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873x.2026.2704648