Page 125 - 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. 125
nature-based tourism in the eastern part of kr aški rob ...
logical features. Despite attracting a growing number of visitors each year,
the potential and suitability of tourist development in Kraški Rob has not
yet been subject of a more detailed analysis. As a consequence, we do not
have a systematic inventory of the resource endowment of this area, wheth-
er it is accessible to visitors, and which features have greater potential to at-
tract visitors. Also, current opportunities, and challenges, for further de-
velopment of nature-based tourism in Kraški Rob has not been discussed
in detail.
First, we will conceptualise nature-based tourism with special at-
tention on nature-society relationships. Drawing on the earlier work of
Fredman and colleagues who, over subsequent articles, developed an ana-
lytical model for the study of nature-based tourism, we will undertake an
assessment of natural attributes for selected sites within the eastern part of
Kraški Rob. This will be done by taking into account traditions and trends
of the tourism supply and demand in the greater area (Istria).
Contemporary views regarding nature-based tourism
Leisure is seen and written about as a process involving freedom, self-dis-
covery, and growth that people, and particularly those living in highly ur-
banised areas, often pursue by seeking contact with nature. Some peo-
ple might search for places of tranquilly to rest and regenerate the body
and mind, while others might search for places where they can find ad-
venture and excitement. Current literature conceptualises this type of en-
gagement—activities taking place in nature—as nature-based tourism.
Fredman and Tyrväinen (2010) note that academic research on the subject
of nature-based tourism has its roots in the studies of outdoor recreation
from the late 1960s and early 1970s, and has, to date, influenced the theoret-
ical and methodological approaches to the study of nature-based tourism
as line of academic inquiry. According to Fredman and Tyrväinen (2010),
tourism studies and studies of outdoor recreation have both exerted ma-
jor influence in terms of methods and approaches used, but also in terms
of prevailing topics of inquiry. During the past 15 to 20 years, researchers
have developed a systematic knowledge base regarding nature-based tour-
ism, and it is this literature that we turned to and used for the development
of this chapter.
It is relevant to note there is no agreement on a precise definition of
nature-based tourism and, consequently, frameworks and analytical ap-
proaches differ across literature. For instance, Björk (2000) regards na-
123
logical features. Despite attracting a growing number of visitors each year,
the potential and suitability of tourist development in Kraški Rob has not
yet been subject of a more detailed analysis. As a consequence, we do not
have a systematic inventory of the resource endowment of this area, wheth-
er it is accessible to visitors, and which features have greater potential to at-
tract visitors. Also, current opportunities, and challenges, for further de-
velopment of nature-based tourism in Kraški Rob has not been discussed
in detail.
First, we will conceptualise nature-based tourism with special at-
tention on nature-society relationships. Drawing on the earlier work of
Fredman and colleagues who, over subsequent articles, developed an ana-
lytical model for the study of nature-based tourism, we will undertake an
assessment of natural attributes for selected sites within the eastern part of
Kraški Rob. This will be done by taking into account traditions and trends
of the tourism supply and demand in the greater area (Istria).
Contemporary views regarding nature-based tourism
Leisure is seen and written about as a process involving freedom, self-dis-
covery, and growth that people, and particularly those living in highly ur-
banised areas, often pursue by seeking contact with nature. Some peo-
ple might search for places of tranquilly to rest and regenerate the body
and mind, while others might search for places where they can find ad-
venture and excitement. Current literature conceptualises this type of en-
gagement—activities taking place in nature—as nature-based tourism.
Fredman and Tyrväinen (2010) note that academic research on the subject
of nature-based tourism has its roots in the studies of outdoor recreation
from the late 1960s and early 1970s, and has, to date, influenced the theoret-
ical and methodological approaches to the study of nature-based tourism
as line of academic inquiry. According to Fredman and Tyrväinen (2010),
tourism studies and studies of outdoor recreation have both exerted ma-
jor influence in terms of methods and approaches used, but also in terms
of prevailing topics of inquiry. During the past 15 to 20 years, researchers
have developed a systematic knowledge base regarding nature-based tour-
ism, and it is this literature that we turned to and used for the development
of this chapter.
It is relevant to note there is no agreement on a precise definition of
nature-based tourism and, consequently, frameworks and analytical ap-
proaches differ across literature. For instance, Björk (2000) regards na-
123
