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Sustainability is introduced as the key to address contradictions between tourism policy development on one hand and environmental protection on the other. However, in the literature exists confusion on what sustainable tourism is all about, sustainable tourism policy has relatively little influence on the broad tourism market operation and research shows that tourism stakeholders have a confused understanding of the sustainable tourism concept. Furthermore, although tourism policy planning has followed a significant turn to participatory approaches towards the development of sustainable tourism, literature neglects a range of educational methods and strategies that already exist which could support effective education responses in order that tourism stakeholders can make informed environmental decisions about sustainable tourism development. This paper suggests that environmental education is the path in order that tourism stakeholders and local community obtain a stronger understanding of the complex issue of sustainable tourism and are empowered to engage in effective ecological action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of environmental education (EE) is that citizens develop a responsible environmental behavior. Environmental awareness constitutes an important factor for the shaping of a responsible environmental behavior. The mass media can strengthen the degree of environmental awareness of the public, through the dissemination of environmental information. The present study, through the application of the Theory of Planned Behavior, presents assessment of the intention of journalists of the local media of Lesbos island to cover environmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the total number of individuals running small ecotourism enterprises in areas of specific interest in Greece, and our objective was to explore the ways of measuring their awareness and characteristics in order to identify the requirements of specific environmental education programmes. A statistical analysis utilizing factor and reliability analysis revealed the environmental profile of the target group. The main factors extracted were; cooperation with environmental organization (governmental or non-governmental); intention for union cooperation; the degree of environmental activism; an assessment of environmental needs; acceptance of financial responsibility; willingness to accept environmental education; environmental education influence; and hierarchy in environmental protection. The development of a specific environmental education programme tit be offered to such people is of extreme importance due to their indirect role as environmental practitioner; often providing information about the local environment to visiting tourists. An appropriate environmental programme tailored to their assessed needs and characteristics is of extreme importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]