Editorial Foreword

Abstract

Recent years have been difficult for humankind which faced a pandemic that was not foreseen as many human losses, immense pressure on the health care systems, and brought a lot of challenges for governments. As expected the world economy has also been impacted in many different ways and more recently the EU economy is also facing the consequences of the Eastern Europe military conflict. It seems that the equilibrium of forces was seriously shaken, new developments are going to emerge and an energy crisis strikes harder than one image a few decades ago.

Ecotourism as a Way of Sustainable Tourism Development of the Region

“…This can lead to increased awareness and support for conservation efforts both locally and globally. An educational aspect of ecotourism raises knowledge of environmental preservation among both visitors and the local population [5]. Through guided tours, educational programs, and interactive experiences, ecotourism fosters environmental literacy, responsible behavior, and appreciation for the natural world, thus promoting a culture of sustainability.…”

Ecotourism as a Way of Sustainable Tourism Development of the Region

“…This can lead to increased awareness and support for conservation efforts both locally and globally. An educational aspect of ecotourism raises knowledge of environmental preservation among both visitors and the local population [5]. Through guided tours, educational programs, and interactive experiences, ecotourism fosters environmental literacy, responsible behavior, and appreciation for the natural world, thus promoting a culture of sustainability.…”

The Psychological and Spiritual Dimension of Volunteering

“…In order for each person to identify the niche in which they can capitalize on their skills and the need for involvement, the support of professionals is needed to encourage and guide them in that endeavor. The main skills that develop through volunteering are the following (Epure, 2013): the ability to identify potential human resources in the community; interpersonal relationship skills: to speak freely and make presentations in public in a relaxed manner; the ability to cultivate and have relationships with a large number of people; good managerial skills: to analyze and distribute the activities into punctual tasks, to be given to the volunteers; to manage details and work efficiently; to delegate accordingly; the ability to take over and adapt new ideas from other contexts to the special needs of the organization they belongs to or collaborate with.…”

“…Regarding the link between the development of personal skills and social skills (Huidu, 2021), or putting these skills in charge of progress in interpersonal relationships, volunteering can help a remarkable evolution of certain personal qualities (Epure, 2013): the ability to make decisions and act accordingly; the ability to take calculated risks; creativity and combating rigidity or preconceived notions; fairness in decision-making; ability to delegate tasks; the ability to self-motivate and motivate others; team work; the ability to complete tasks and to focus on the essentials; flexibility and quick adaptability to new situations; the ability to be an example for those around; the ability to constantly respect ethical principles.…”