As a consequence of the new political world geography, today we can reflect about the relationship that links geopolitics and geoeconomy, both on a global scale and in the European enlargement process. There is a number of participators in European tourism on the beginning of the 21st century. Many international organizations and commissions are directing tourism development today. Some countries leave their old principles and practice and they adjust on common European interests. Furthermore, development plans, which observe tourism in line with spatial, economical and social development, are made in Europe. One of them is a famous plan FORCE that associates development activities and stimulates tourism development in Europe. So, Europe has a tendency to explore all production potential and to reinforce the tourism on national, regional and local level

Relationship between urban development and tourism is a significant process in Europe today. Development of tourism has caused many organizational changes in urban environment. In the middle of the 20th century cultural and historical heritage in the cities was impetus of development of tourism in European cities. Nowadays, in many European cities tourism is recognized as a mean of further economic development. Strategy of polycentricity, outlined in European spatial development perspective is supporting that process, too. Many tourist centres and metropolitan tourist areas have been developed. In the period from 1996. to 2007. number of visitors in European cultural capitals was growing continuously by rate of 25,6%. In the same period, the number of international tourist arrivals increased by rate of only 7%

Historical centers of European cities are continually adapting to modern developments. This trend has also caught the historical old city of Dubrovnik. Requirements for new tourist products have influenced its transformation. Daily visits have made it possible for the old city to be "exploited" as a unique tourist resource. This process has started some negative population trends. The number of citizens in the old city fell from 5181 to 1241 during the period 1953-2006. The socio-economic structure has separated into two levels, seasonal and out of season. Today there are three times more work positions in the old city than citizens. The number of visitors of the old city is huge. In the summer months the historic city receives 30,000 to 40,000 visitors daily. From this number 87.7% are tourists. In the last few years this process has been enhanced by cruising tourism. In this way the historic old city has developed into a cultural tourist product.

Urban tourism at the beginning of the 21st century has become a significant factor in the development of cities. Its theoretical foundation is based on spatial models that have developed over the last 50 years. Today gravitational spatial models of destination are formed. The urban structure of a city has become an important motivator of urban travel system. Its structure is adapted to travel trends, while on the other hand, travel trends have a feedback on urban development. This process affects architectural and spatial-functional activities, including social change. It can easily lead to the growth of a city in a tourist city.

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