Hello, and welcome to my personal blog. I’m Dr. Ante Mandić, a passionate advocate for sustainable tourism and an academic committed to shaping a more responsible future in this field.

At 37, I hold the position of Associate Professor at the Department of Tourism and Economy within the Faculty of Economics, Business, and Tourism at the University of Split, Croatia. Additionally, I’m an affiliated faculty member at the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at Warner College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, USA. My career is a testament to my dedication to several core values that define both my professional and personal ethos. These include a staunch commitment to human rights and democratic principles, gender equality, ethical conduct, social diversity, and fostering an environment of respect, tolerance, and responsibility. I strongly believe in loyalty, academic integrity, rationality, the importance of diverse perspectives, critical thinking, and nurturing curiosity.

My academic pursuits are deeply rooted in sustainable tourism development, with a specific focus on heritage sites, especially those situated in protected natural areas. Following my 2018 doctoral dissertation, which delved into the economic impacts of tourism in Croatia’s protected natural regions, I have significantly contributed to several esteemed international journals. Among these are the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Tourism Management Perspectives, Current Issues in Tourism, Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, and Journal of Ecotourism. My contribution to the field extends beyond research articles; I have also authored and co-edited five influential books. These include “Mediterranean Protected Areas in the Era of Overtourism: Challenges and Solutions” (Springer Cham; 2021; co-edited with Lidija Petrić), “The Routledge Handbook of Nature-Based Tourism Development” (Routledge; 2023; co-edited with Sandeep K. Walia), “Handbook on Managing Nature-Based Tourism Destinations Amid Climate Change” (Edward Elgar; 2024; co-edited with Anna Spenceley and David Fennell), “Cultural Sustainable Tourism: Strategic Planning for a Sustainable Development” (Springer, Cham; 2022; co-edited with R.A. Castanho and U. Stankov), and “Legacy and Innovation: Integrating Cultural Heritage Conservation with Contemporary Tourism Management” (Springer, Cham; 2024; co-edited with R.A. Castanho and T. Pivac). These works collectively underscore my commitment to advancing the understanding and sustainable management of tourism in natural and cultural settings.

Since 2021, I serve as an elected member of the Executive Committee of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (TAPAS), where, as Coordinator of Knowledge Development, I have had the chance to contribute in shaping global approaches to sustainable nature-based tourism. I am the lead author of the IUCN WCPA Issues Paper Series No. 07 – Strengthening Sustainable Tourism’s Role in Biodiversity Conservation and Community Resilience (2025), a flagship publication that operationalizes IUCN Resolution 130 and provides policymakers, conservation practitioners, and tourism stakeholders with strategic guidance, recommended actions, and international case studies to align tourism with biodiversity targets and equitable community benefits, supporting the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. My earlier contributions include co-authoring Resolution 130, adopted at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille (2022), and participating in the global study Tourism in Protected Areas amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, published in the UNWTO’s “One Planet Vision for a Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector” report.

Since 2024, I have been an accredited Expert Trainer for the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), authorized to deliver official GSTC training programs on sustainability standards and best practices for destinations and tourism enterprises. My international project experience is extensive, having worked with INTERREG MEDITERRANEAN on initiatives like ShapeTourism, BluTour System, Co-Evolve, and DESTIMED, as well as participating in the HORIZON 2020 program through the SmartCulTour project. While I previously managed a Living Lab focused on sustainable and resilient tourism development, this role concluded in June 2023 with the project’s completion. Currently, I am deeply involved in the COMMITMENT project, a significant research initiative funded by the NextGeneration fund. This four-year study aims to explore effective climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in tourism, concentrating on three distinct Croatian destinations. Beyond my engagement with the COMMITMENT project, I offer expert consultancy in environmental satellite account development for Croatia, led by Zagreb’s Institute for Tourism, and spearhead the Central Dalmatia region’s Tourism Master Plan, focusing on the Split hinterland as well as the carryng capacity assessment and destination management plan for Trogir, UNESCO World Heritage Site. My consultancy roles, including advising Croatia’s Ministry of Tourism on sustainable tourism strategy scenarios for 2030, reflect my dedication to promoting sustainable tourism at various levels.

Since September 2020, I have been the Associate Editor of the Journal of Ecotourism. More recently, I joined the Executive Committee of the IUCN WCPA TAPAS, coordinating Knowledge Development.

For more insights into my professional journey and thoughts, feel free to connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google Scholar, or ResearchGate. For a comprehensive overview of my professional journey and detailed accomplishments, please refer to my CV linked below. Your thoughts and queries are always welcome at ante.mandic@efst.hr.

Warm regards,
Ante Mandić