Over the last few years the EU has started to operate in the environment to define and promote the implementation of environmental management systems and, more generally, to explore the possibility of sustainable development, not just in sectors of industrial production but also in tourism.

The development of tourism at a European level and the potential for employment and improvement of the services provided has encouraged the identification of management guidelines to promote an environmentally compatible tourism, to address a clientele already sensitive to questions of the environment and the specific territorial contexts.

Environmentally compatible development, formulated and developed in the long term, that is to say economic growth twinned with environmental protection, and more generally quality of life, represents an important challenge for the new millennium. Tourism, especially in the mountains, is one of those activities that, due to its presence within delicate ecosystems, must take up this challenge.

Tourism, in all forms, must pay particular attention to the environment as the lack of planning and bad management can create negative impacts which, in the long run, will damage its productivity levels.

Tourist structures need to be equipped with the instruments that allow business to work alongside the needs for environmental protection and to promote the areas in question.

Taking into consideration these points the Department of Commodity Science has developed several projects during the last few years based on the concept of sustainable tourism and environmental management of accommodation structures, especially in a mountain context. Further studies encouraged the researchers to analyse aspects of the services provided by the refuges' management and the possibility of introducing a dialogue with the public; in line with the need to encourage a general culture of environmental sustainability.