Page 24 - 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. 24
challenges of tourism development in protected areas of croatia and slovenia
in Slovenia the number of small scale protected areas is higher (1,164 nature
monuments).
There are also large differences in the scope and characteristics of
tourism in individual categories of protected areas. Some of them (e.g. na-
tional parks) can satisfy a wide spectrum of tourism motivations with what
they offer and, therefore, attract numerous tourists of general motivation,
while other categories (e.g. natural monuments) generally only attract spe-
cific groups of visitors. In contrast, some protected areas with stricter pro-
tection regimes (e.g. strict natural reserves) essentially do not participate
in the organised tourism supply, regardless of their inherent attractiveness
and natural beauty. Finally, some protected areas (especially those in the vi-
cinity of cities, e.g. nature parks or park forests) are ideal for recreation on
the part of the local population and, in these areas, leisure/recreational ac-
tivities are much more developed than tourism.
In the most-visited national parks tourism (often mass tourism—es-
pecially during the summer tourism season) has become the main factor
of transformation of both protected areas and the areas surrounding them.
Namely, the surrounding area brings both positive and negative changes,
occasionally threatening nature protection imperatives, i.e. the fundamen-
tal function of all protected areas. In contrast, in lesser-known protected
areas, i.e. those with a lower level of protection, tourism is the initial phas-
es or not present, so their scientific, educational, and recreational func-
tions are more strongly emphasised than tourism (commercial). As a spe-
cific dominant form of tourism in such areas, nature-based tourism stands
out. The spatial reflection of such tourism is gentler and also has the effect
of spreading ecological awareness and educating visitors.
References
Berginc, M., Kremesec Jevšenak, J., Vidic, J., 2006: Sistem varstva narave v
Sloveniji, Ministrstvo za okolje in prostor, Ljubljana.
Bralić, I., 2000: Turizam i nacionalni parkovi u Hrvatskoj, Turizam 48 (4),
373-378.
Bushell, R., McCool, S. F., 2007: Tourism as a tool for conservation and sup-
port of protected areas: setting the agenda, in: Tourism and protect-
ed areas: benefits beyond boundaries (eds. Bushell, R., Eagles, P.), CAB
International, Oxfordshire – Cambridge, 12-26.
22
in Slovenia the number of small scale protected areas is higher (1,164 nature
monuments).
There are also large differences in the scope and characteristics of
tourism in individual categories of protected areas. Some of them (e.g. na-
tional parks) can satisfy a wide spectrum of tourism motivations with what
they offer and, therefore, attract numerous tourists of general motivation,
while other categories (e.g. natural monuments) generally only attract spe-
cific groups of visitors. In contrast, some protected areas with stricter pro-
tection regimes (e.g. strict natural reserves) essentially do not participate
in the organised tourism supply, regardless of their inherent attractiveness
and natural beauty. Finally, some protected areas (especially those in the vi-
cinity of cities, e.g. nature parks or park forests) are ideal for recreation on
the part of the local population and, in these areas, leisure/recreational ac-
tivities are much more developed than tourism.
In the most-visited national parks tourism (often mass tourism—es-
pecially during the summer tourism season) has become the main factor
of transformation of both protected areas and the areas surrounding them.
Namely, the surrounding area brings both positive and negative changes,
occasionally threatening nature protection imperatives, i.e. the fundamen-
tal function of all protected areas. In contrast, in lesser-known protected
areas, i.e. those with a lower level of protection, tourism is the initial phas-
es or not present, so their scientific, educational, and recreational func-
tions are more strongly emphasised than tourism (commercial). As a spe-
cific dominant form of tourism in such areas, nature-based tourism stands
out. The spatial reflection of such tourism is gentler and also has the effect
of spreading ecological awareness and educating visitors.
References
Berginc, M., Kremesec Jevšenak, J., Vidic, J., 2006: Sistem varstva narave v
Sloveniji, Ministrstvo za okolje in prostor, Ljubljana.
Bralić, I., 2000: Turizam i nacionalni parkovi u Hrvatskoj, Turizam 48 (4),
373-378.
Bushell, R., McCool, S. F., 2007: Tourism as a tool for conservation and sup-
port of protected areas: setting the agenda, in: Tourism and protect-
ed areas: benefits beyond boundaries (eds. Bushell, R., Eagles, P.), CAB
International, Oxfordshire – Cambridge, 12-26.
22
