Sustainable tourism generates environmental, social and economic benefits and opportunities for destinations that implement it. The author discusses the relationship between the concept of sustainable development and sustainable tourism. At the EU level, taking into account communications, replacing the common tourist policy (which does not exist), the aim of this paper is to consider the different aspects (environmental, social and economic) of sustainable tourism through two approaches. Through EDEN destinations, confronts the 'sustainable' north and 'unsustainable' south. The conclusion suggests rejecting the previous thesis, because the south as a north, can offer the same quality tourism product. On the other hand, the author discusses the sustainable coastal tourism and coastal mass tourism. The basis for this is the type of tourism and attractive base. The research (questionnaire) on the perception of students of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula on sustainable tourism suggests implementing the concept of sustainable tourism in programs of higher education. In the opinion of the author, these types of researches represent a way to reform the higher education system.