Page 22 - 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. 22
challenges of tourism development in protected areas of croatia and slovenia
protected areas in both states, another goal was to compare the develop-
ment of tourism and its spatial influence and impacts in selected case stud-
ies. Guided by this objective, relevant experts on the topic of tourism in
protected areas from both countries were invited to highlight the present-
ed topic via their work on representative case studies.
Transport and transport infrastructure are an unavoidable precondi-
tion and development factor for tourism in all types of tourism areas, in-
cluding protected areas. Therefore, the second chapter is dedicated to the
topic of transport accessibility in Croatian national parks and nature parks.
The authors examine its connection to tourist flow through analysis of five
indicators, including public transport connectivity, public transport fre-
quency, road transport connectivity, and temporal distance from urban ar-
eas and larger tourist centres.
Some national parks that are visited by a large number of tourists can
be recognised as bearers of tourism, encompassing the wider area around
the protected area itself. Examples of such national parks are Krka and
Mljet national parks in Croatia. The research regarding Krka National Park
presented in the third chapter, focuses on the development of rural tourism
in its surrounding area, which has been characterised by intense develop-
ment of rural tourism in recent years. The fourth chapter deals with the in-
fluence of tourism on the demographic development of the island Mljet in
southern Dalmatia, which has become a popular tourism destination since
its northwestern part was declared a national park in 1960. The research fo-
cuses on the socio-economic transformation and social pressure of tourism
on a small local community.
Although the transformative role of tourism in lesser-known protected
areas (most often those of a lower level of protection) is significantly weak-
er, wider knowledge of their conservational and educational role within the
framework of nature-based tourism is very valuable and aids in guiding fu-
ture development and management of protected areas. Additionally, it is also
important to research the geographical aspects of recreational activities in
protected areas, such as various forms of active recreation (mountaineering,
fishing, birdwatching), as well as secondary housing. Protected areas on the
Slovenian coast and in the Dinaric karst region are good examples for this.
The fifth chapter of this book discusses the influence of climate
change on protected areas along the Slovenian coast. The Sečovlje Saltpans,
Strunjan, and Debeli Rtič landscape parks and Škocjanski zatok Nature
Reserve represent “islands of nature” in the mostly urbanised coastal zone
20
protected areas in both states, another goal was to compare the develop-
ment of tourism and its spatial influence and impacts in selected case stud-
ies. Guided by this objective, relevant experts on the topic of tourism in
protected areas from both countries were invited to highlight the present-
ed topic via their work on representative case studies.
Transport and transport infrastructure are an unavoidable precondi-
tion and development factor for tourism in all types of tourism areas, in-
cluding protected areas. Therefore, the second chapter is dedicated to the
topic of transport accessibility in Croatian national parks and nature parks.
The authors examine its connection to tourist flow through analysis of five
indicators, including public transport connectivity, public transport fre-
quency, road transport connectivity, and temporal distance from urban ar-
eas and larger tourist centres.
Some national parks that are visited by a large number of tourists can
be recognised as bearers of tourism, encompassing the wider area around
the protected area itself. Examples of such national parks are Krka and
Mljet national parks in Croatia. The research regarding Krka National Park
presented in the third chapter, focuses on the development of rural tourism
in its surrounding area, which has been characterised by intense develop-
ment of rural tourism in recent years. The fourth chapter deals with the in-
fluence of tourism on the demographic development of the island Mljet in
southern Dalmatia, which has become a popular tourism destination since
its northwestern part was declared a national park in 1960. The research fo-
cuses on the socio-economic transformation and social pressure of tourism
on a small local community.
Although the transformative role of tourism in lesser-known protected
areas (most often those of a lower level of protection) is significantly weak-
er, wider knowledge of their conservational and educational role within the
framework of nature-based tourism is very valuable and aids in guiding fu-
ture development and management of protected areas. Additionally, it is also
important to research the geographical aspects of recreational activities in
protected areas, such as various forms of active recreation (mountaineering,
fishing, birdwatching), as well as secondary housing. Protected areas on the
Slovenian coast and in the Dinaric karst region are good examples for this.
The fifth chapter of this book discusses the influence of climate
change on protected areas along the Slovenian coast. The Sečovlje Saltpans,
Strunjan, and Debeli Rtič landscape parks and Škocjanski zatok Nature
Reserve represent “islands of nature” in the mostly urbanised coastal zone
20
