Abstract:
The dynamic development of the tourism industry, regardless of its contribution to the world economy, has negative
consequences for the natural environment. These are pollution of water resources, soil, climate change, inefficient use
of energy resources, destruction of natural monuments, destruction of biodiversity. The real impact of tourism on the
environment is also hidden, as its assessment does not take into account the impact of transportation, hotel and
restaurant business, which are perceived as separate sectors of the service sector. The growth of the share of tourism in
the total world GDP and the deepening of environmental problems associated with its development encourage society
to search for new vectors of development, including the adaptation of the principles of the Concept of Sustainable
Development to the context of tourism. An example of one form of sustainable tourism is ecological tourism. The
southern regions of Ukraine have enormous tourist and recreational potential for the development of ecological
tourism. The article provides examples of the development of ecological (rural) tourism based on facilities that provide
tourist services in the Kherson region. Environmental certification of tourist facilities is considered as a mechanism of
the «greening» of the industry, increasing their competitiveness in the market of tourist services and improving image
attractiveness.
