Urban Green Spaces, Ecotourism, and Sustainable City Planning: A Governance Perspective

Abstract

Urban green spaces are integral parts of sustainable cities, offering ecological, economic, and social advantages. The aim of this research is to examine the role of urban green spaces as ecotourism sites and their influence on sustainable city planning. With a systematic qualitative content analysis of secondary sources on cities, including Singapore, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Melbourne, and New York, the study identifies three critical dimensions: environmental sustainability, economic viability, and social inclusion. Results indicate that while urban green spaces enhance biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and economic development, inadequate governance can lead to over-tourism, loss of habitat, and social exclusion. Effective policies require zoning laws, public-private partnerships, and smart city systems to reconcile tourism with environmental and social sustainability. The research concludes that urban ecotourism can only positively impact sustainable urban development through multi-stakeholder governance, inclusive policies, and innovative planning frameworks. This study uniquely contributes by developing and testing an Integrated Urban Ecotourism Governance Framework that systematically links urban green spaces, ecotourism development, environmental sustainability, economic viability, and social inclusion. Specifically, this research examines how the sustainable management of urban green spaces as ecotourism destinations can simultaneously advance urban development and promote environmental justice and equitable community access, thereby contributing to sustainability.