This work was created as a result of studying the role of the local population on sustainable development in the area of the city Varaždin, which is an important factor for the development of sustainable tourism in the city. Tourism is one of the leading activities in Croatia that is successful every year, and it affects the present and future of the planet, and therefore important and sustainable development and the influence of the population for the purpose of a better tourist position of the area and a more reliable and successful future of the city by respecting the principles of sustainable development of tourism. The goal of the work is to prove the role of the local population in sustainable development, which represents the satisfaction of current needs, without jeopardizing the needs of future generations. In that sense. the population should support sustainable development and create a pleasant environment, at the same time respecting the needs of the generations to come, leaving them room for progress. In the first part of the paper, the theoretical concepts of tourism and sustainable development and the principles of sustainable development are defined. Furthermore, the concept of the local community and the key role of the local population are defined, which is supported by survey research that confirms whether the local population truly has a role in sustainable development. Likewise, an analysis of the tourist supply and tourist demand of the city of Varaždin, the most important elements of a quality tourist destination, and a SWOT analysis was made. The respondents' views and opinions about the existence and significance of the role of the local population in the sustainable development of the city itself were asked by the survey questionnaire, and the results obtained confirm the hypothesis.