Page 246 - 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. 246
challenges of tourism development in protected areas of croatia and slovenia
– planned—management goals and activities are planned in ad-
vance and their implementation takes place according to pre-ar-
ranged priorities and plans;
– transparent—open to the public and clearly-defined.
In order to increase the potential of protected areas, administrators
and policy makers seek information regarding the strengths and weakness-
es of management methods, and the various pressures and threats that pro-
tected areas are subjected to (Hockings, 2003). There are many reasons to
assess management efficiency. For example, management bodies general-
ly want to improve their performance via flexible management. Local and
national governments and agencies generally want to wisely invest in pro-
tected areas, taking into account the specific needs of a given protected
area and prioritising accordingly. Local communities and NGOs generally
want to know that their interests are being taken into account in the plan-
ning process for a given area. Other stakeholder demands might also pres-
ent themselves during the planning process, i.e. for more transparent re-
porting, good business practices, etc. (Hockings et al., 2006). Assessment
of planning (or aspects and goals of planning) consists of an analysis of all
relevant information for a given area, forming the basis for the definition of
management goals and activities.
Management of tourism in protected areas of Croatia
and Slovenia—similarities and differences
Although tourism can have many beneficial effects on protected areas,
management of tourism often presents a considerable challenge. In order
to ascertain how to best administer tourism in protected areas, especial-
ly in national parks, the main trends in tourism demand and supply must
be determined. According to Eagles (2007), park visitation will continue to
increase in the future and tourism in national parks will lead to increased
public participation and collaboration, while increasing education levels
in society will lead to increased sophistication in park administration and
park services.
Other important trends can be identified, such as the increasing share
of elderly population, which has a significant influence on the demand of
activities, settings, and experiences in protected areas, as well as the in-
creasing availability and accessibility of information technology, which
profoundly influences park visitation. Continuous growth of the number of
244
– planned—management goals and activities are planned in ad-
vance and their implementation takes place according to pre-ar-
ranged priorities and plans;
– transparent—open to the public and clearly-defined.
In order to increase the potential of protected areas, administrators
and policy makers seek information regarding the strengths and weakness-
es of management methods, and the various pressures and threats that pro-
tected areas are subjected to (Hockings, 2003). There are many reasons to
assess management efficiency. For example, management bodies general-
ly want to improve their performance via flexible management. Local and
national governments and agencies generally want to wisely invest in pro-
tected areas, taking into account the specific needs of a given protected
area and prioritising accordingly. Local communities and NGOs generally
want to know that their interests are being taken into account in the plan-
ning process for a given area. Other stakeholder demands might also pres-
ent themselves during the planning process, i.e. for more transparent re-
porting, good business practices, etc. (Hockings et al., 2006). Assessment
of planning (or aspects and goals of planning) consists of an analysis of all
relevant information for a given area, forming the basis for the definition of
management goals and activities.
Management of tourism in protected areas of Croatia
and Slovenia—similarities and differences
Although tourism can have many beneficial effects on protected areas,
management of tourism often presents a considerable challenge. In order
to ascertain how to best administer tourism in protected areas, especial-
ly in national parks, the main trends in tourism demand and supply must
be determined. According to Eagles (2007), park visitation will continue to
increase in the future and tourism in national parks will lead to increased
public participation and collaboration, while increasing education levels
in society will lead to increased sophistication in park administration and
park services.
Other important trends can be identified, such as the increasing share
of elderly population, which has a significant influence on the demand of
activities, settings, and experiences in protected areas, as well as the in-
creasing availability and accessibility of information technology, which
profoundly influences park visitation. Continuous growth of the number of
244
