Urban ecotourism as the concept of optimal development of the landscape of outstanding features 'Veliko ratno ostrvo'

Due to the intensive environmental degradation over the last decades, the need for tourism, too, as well as for other activities, to turn to sustainable develop­ment has arisen. One of the tourism forms which puts ecological, social, ethical and cultural effects of the economic activities to the first place, i.e. to the concept of sustainable development, is ecotourism. As an individual form of ecotourism, which is at the beginning of its development, urban ecotourism i.e. ecotourism of the preserved natural areas which are located within the city areas, stands out. The development of ecotourism in the urban environment can serve as a catalyst for the rehabilitation of the natural environment and other changes regarding the sustainable development. In accordance with that, but also with the emphasizing of the ecological dimension of tourism, the protected natural areas are becoming more and more current on the touristic market. The protected natural areas, located in the immediate surroundings of the large tourist dispersions and urban areas are holding the leading position, since the strong development of economy and the high population density are positively reflecting the generating of tourist demand. Precisely for that reason, the landscape of outstanding features 'Veliko ratno ostrvo' represents a significant tourist and eco­logical resource of the city of Belgrade. However, the conservation of space in accord­ance with the existing law protection was not obeyed to the appropriate degree in the tourist development that has taken place so far. In order to talk about ecotourism on the 'Veliko ratno ostrvo', it is necessary to execute tourist evaluation, appropriate presentation of the offer, and to create different actions and programmes with the aim of improvement. The organization of ecotourism increases the complementarity between the protection of nature and the usage of the area itself.