The Impact of Tourism and Urban Growth on the Sustainable Development in the Kopaonik National Park

uncontrolled construction on Kopaonik mountain in Serbia.
Kopaonik is known for its natural beauty and winter sports
attractions, but in recent years, it has experienced a significant
increase in urbanization. The paper analyzes the current state of
urbanization in Kopaonik, including the increase in the number of
building permits, the number of built buildings, and the increase in
tourist capacities. Environmental challenges and infrastructural
problems arising from rapid urbanization are also discussed. This
paper also explores the dilemmas between the economic benefit
brought by tourism and the need to preserve nature. The author
investigates the views and concerns of citizens regarding
urbanization through a survey. The survey results provide insight into
different perspectives and dilemmas regarding this topic. Also, the
role of the Kopaonik National Park and local authorities in
controlling urbanization is considered. Kopaonik National Park
emphasizes the need to stop further construction to preserve nature,
while the local self-government of the municipality of Raška
advocates controlled urbanization that will support the region's
economic development. Through this analysis, the paper explores the
key aspects of urbanization in Kopaonik, providing insight into the
complexity of the challenges and the need for a balance between
economic benefit and nature conservation in this beautiful mountain
area.