Page 111 - Koderman, Miha, and Vuk Tvrtko Opačić. Eds. 2020. Challenges of tourism development in protected areas of Croatia and Slovenia. Koper, Zagreb: University of Primorska Press, Croatian Geographical Society
P. 111
the importance of protected areas on the slovenian coast for tourism ...
stone walls, and there are preserved structures made of piled stones (with-
out mortar), which have served as shelters or plant-watering catchments
in the past. The area is known for artichoke and persimmon production
(there is a traditional Persimmon Festival each year), as well as for the pro-
duction of olives and other crops. Although the area is populated, it is a
largely well-preserved natural environment with high landscape diversi-
ty and various habitat types. Development in the landscape park is orient-
ed towards the promotion of sustainable forms of agriculture, ecologically
friendly tourism and recreation, cultural heritage protection, implemen-
tation of traditional salt production, and the use of ecologically-friendly
practices in natural resources management (Jurinčič and Popič, 2009).
Recently, the regulation of tourism development has been at the fore-
front, as visitation to the park is increasing. To this end, additional groomed
and marked walking and cycling trails have been made, an info centre set
up, guided tours offered, quays and bollards set up, etc. (Strunjan Landscape
Park, 2019). The area is heavily burdened by tourism during the summer
months, when longer-term guests are joined by numerous day-trippers and
many passing vessels in the bay. Last year, 2,817 people attended guided
tours in Strunjan Landscape Park (Makovac, 2019), which, however, rep-
resented only a small share of all visitors. Within the park, there are ho-
tels, a camping site, and private accommodation; guests are able to take
part in walking, cycling, and other sport activities (tennis, beach volley-
ball, swimming). The protected area is well-connected with the wider sur-
rounding area, including cycling (Parenzana) and hiking trails, and with
Izola, Pacug and Fiesa, where there are also various accommodation facili-
ties and tourist visitation is on the rise.
Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve
The Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve encompasses 120.7 ha of brackish and
salty marshland, situated on the edge of Koper (Fig. 2). It lies between shop-
ping centres in the south-eastern part of Koper, the coastal express road
with connecting urban roads, and the railway line. Following its rehabilita-
tion, the area was protected as a nature reserve (1998), and its management
was taken over by DOPPS-Birdlife Slovenia in 1999, which was followed by
several years of renaturation. As a whole, Škocjanski zatok, with its salty,
brackish, and freshwater habitats, has 245 recorded bird species, a variety
of other species of fauna, and vast tidal marshes with halophytes; it is a nat-
ural asset and an ecologically-important area, as well as a Natura 2000 site
109
stone walls, and there are preserved structures made of piled stones (with-
out mortar), which have served as shelters or plant-watering catchments
in the past. The area is known for artichoke and persimmon production
(there is a traditional Persimmon Festival each year), as well as for the pro-
duction of olives and other crops. Although the area is populated, it is a
largely well-preserved natural environment with high landscape diversi-
ty and various habitat types. Development in the landscape park is orient-
ed towards the promotion of sustainable forms of agriculture, ecologically
friendly tourism and recreation, cultural heritage protection, implemen-
tation of traditional salt production, and the use of ecologically-friendly
practices in natural resources management (Jurinčič and Popič, 2009).
Recently, the regulation of tourism development has been at the fore-
front, as visitation to the park is increasing. To this end, additional groomed
and marked walking and cycling trails have been made, an info centre set
up, guided tours offered, quays and bollards set up, etc. (Strunjan Landscape
Park, 2019). The area is heavily burdened by tourism during the summer
months, when longer-term guests are joined by numerous day-trippers and
many passing vessels in the bay. Last year, 2,817 people attended guided
tours in Strunjan Landscape Park (Makovac, 2019), which, however, rep-
resented only a small share of all visitors. Within the park, there are ho-
tels, a camping site, and private accommodation; guests are able to take
part in walking, cycling, and other sport activities (tennis, beach volley-
ball, swimming). The protected area is well-connected with the wider sur-
rounding area, including cycling (Parenzana) and hiking trails, and with
Izola, Pacug and Fiesa, where there are also various accommodation facili-
ties and tourist visitation is on the rise.
Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve
The Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve encompasses 120.7 ha of brackish and
salty marshland, situated on the edge of Koper (Fig. 2). It lies between shop-
ping centres in the south-eastern part of Koper, the coastal express road
with connecting urban roads, and the railway line. Following its rehabilita-
tion, the area was protected as a nature reserve (1998), and its management
was taken over by DOPPS-Birdlife Slovenia in 1999, which was followed by
several years of renaturation. As a whole, Škocjanski zatok, with its salty,
brackish, and freshwater habitats, has 245 recorded bird species, a variety
of other species of fauna, and vast tidal marshes with halophytes; it is a nat-
ural asset and an ecologically-important area, as well as a Natura 2000 site
109
