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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Regional Landscape Plan, or RLP, introduced a significant planning framework for Sardinia\u2019s 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<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLand-use pressure<\/th> Potential destination effect<\/th> Management implication<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Coastal construction<\/td> Habitat fragmentation, landscape loss and increased exposure to erosion and sea-level rise<\/td> Prioritise existing urban areas, adaptive reuse and strict assessment of new development<\/td><\/tr> Second homes and seasonal housing<\/td> Underused assets outside peak season, infrastructure costs and possible pressure on housing availability<\/td> Monitor occupancy, service demand, water use and local housing impacts<\/td><\/tr> Roads and parking<\/td> Habitat fragmentation, car dependence and pressure near sensitive beaches<\/td> Use managed access, public transport, park-and-ride and limits on car-based expansion<\/td><\/tr> Tourism facilities<\/td> Local jobs and services, but potential resource and landscape impacts<\/td> Link approvals to water, wastewater, mobility, energy and ecological capacity<\/td><\/tr> Conversion of rural land<\/td> Loss of productive landscapes, food systems and ecological connectivity<\/td> Protect agricultural and pastoral functions; support compatible local enterprise<\/td><\/tr> Coastal engineering<\/td> Protection of infrastructure in some locations, but possible disruption of sediment processes<\/td> Assess alternatives, cumulative effects and nature-based solutions before intervention<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n