Klaipėdos universitetas

This article aims to assess the dynamic trends in the Lithuania’s hotel market and substantiate, plus illustrate their need, if it exists.Hotel business is becoming increasingly growing entrepreneurial branch that integrates political decisions together with businessinitiatives and local public attitude towards the tourist, or economic benefits left behind. In Lithuania and worldwide hotel businessis expanding rapidly, but the growth of the sector in state was and is particularly vulnerable to the historical conditions, politicaldecisions, new business trends - international business and globalization, and, of course, the needs of incoming tourists. But howand in what direction is reasonable to develop the hotel industry is the main topic discussed in the article with additionally carriedout statistical analysis.

The article presents the main ideas of sustainable tourism – new form of tourism promoted by authorities, environmental and social institutions and international organizations. It implies taking into account economic, environmental, and socio-cultural aspect by planning and management of tourism. The article presents historical background of the idea of sustainability and main international events concerning this topic. The author highlights negative effects of tourism that can be prevented by applying the principles of sustainable development.

For twenty years, as soon as the talking about the possibilities brought in by cycles and attractiveness of the cycling related activities had started, the party of skeptics immediately appears arguing that absence of good bicycle paths means absence of bicyclists per se. Or, on the opposite – as long as the cycling mainstream is weak there is no need for paths. Therefore this dilemma goes on for more than 20 years in Lithuania, thus at least one generation in the country has lost its chance to appreciate the joy of full-scale cycling. On the other hand maybe we shouldn’t have to complain thoroughly, as fragmented cycling trails are constantly being fitted. But how the fragmentation and mostly unplanned trail scattering may be associated with regions remains unclear. Even more specific question – can trips on bicycles lead to more integrated regionalization and who are those using cycling paths in the future – the authors try to answer in this article.