9. Land Use and Tourism Development
Coastal Planning, Land Consumption and Territorial Capacity
Land use is one of the most consequential but often overlooked dimensions of sustainable destination development. Accommodation, roads, car parks, marinas, second homes, tourism facilities, commercial services and public infrastructure all occupy land and can alter landscapes, habitats, drainage patterns, mobility systems and the relationship between residents and visitors.
In Sardinia, these questions are particularly important along the coast. Coastal areas combine high tourism demand, ecological sensitivity, public access, landscape value and exposure to climate risks such as erosion, flooding and sea-level rise.
The Regional Landscape Plan, or RLP, introduced a significant planning framework for Sardinia’s coastal zone. It defines the coastal strip as a landscape asset and a strategic resource requiring integrated planning and management. The Plan seeks to preserve intact coastal territory, direct tourism development towards existing settlements and resorts, and prioritise rehabilitation, reuse and completion of existing urban fabric over new construction in undeveloped coastal areas.[regione.sardegna]
This approach is directly relevant to sustainable tourism. It recognises that uncontrolled coastal expansion can erode the landscapes and ecosystems on which visitor demand depends.
| Land-use pressure | Potential destination effect | Management implication |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal construction | Habitat fragmentation, landscape loss and increased exposure to erosion and sea-level rise | Prioritise existing urban areas, adaptive reuse and strict assessment of new development |
| Second homes and seasonal housing | Underused assets outside peak season, infrastructure costs and possible pressure on housing availability | Monitor occupancy, service demand, water use and local housing impacts |
| Roads and parking | Habitat fragmentation, car dependence and pressure near sensitive beaches | Use managed access, public transport, park-and-ride and limits on car-based expansion |
| Tourism facilities | Local jobs and services, but potential resource and landscape impacts | Link approvals to water, wastewater, mobility, energy and ecological capacity |
| Conversion of rural land | Loss of productive landscapes, food systems and ecological connectivity | Protect agricultural and pastoral functions; support compatible local enterprise |
| Coastal engineering | Protection of infrastructure in some locations, but possible disruption of sediment processes | Assess alternatives, cumulative effects and nature-based solutions before intervention |
ISPRA’s 2024 soil-consumption reporting found that Sardinia recorded 462 hectares of newly consumed land during 2022–23, including infrastructure and industrial activity. Low population density does not eliminate this concern. In a region with sensitive coasts, dispersed settlement and high landscape value, the location and pattern of land consumption can matter as much as the regional total.[sardegnaambiente]
The land-use challenge is not simply to prohibit development. Sardinia requires housing, services, energy infrastructure, transport improvements, public facilities and appropriately located tourism investment. The question is what should be developed, where, for whom, with what resource demand, under which climate risks and with which long-term management responsibilities.
Tourism infrastructure should therefore be assessed through a territorial-capacity lens. Before approving new beds, facilities, roads or coastal access points, authorities should be able to assess:
- Water supply and wastewater-treatment capacity.
- Seasonal road, parking and public-transport capacity.
- Exposure to erosion, flooding, wildfire and sea-level rise.
- Effects on biodiversity, dune systems, wetlands and ecological corridors.
- Landscape and visual impact.
- Housing availability for residents and seasonal workers.
- Contribution to local employment, procurement and public value.
- Ability of local authorities to manage resulting service demand.
“Carrying capacity” should not be reduced to a single maximum visitor number. It is better understood as the operational capacity of specific systems: a beach access route, wastewater plant, coastal road, car park, protected area, water network, heritage site or municipality.
The Regional Landscape Plan offers an important policy foundation, but its effectiveness depends on consistent municipal implementation, current spatial data, enforcement, public participation and a willingness to prioritise long-term territorial value over short-term construction gains.
For Sardinia, the strongest development model is likely to be one that improves the quality and efficiency of existing settlements, protects undeveloped coastal systems, reuses underused buildings where appropriate and directs investment towards infrastructure, restoration and community value rather than continual land consumption.