Page 32 - 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. 32
challenges of tourism development in protected areas of croatia and slovenia
2005). Simultaneously, ecologically valuable space within the borders of na-
tional parks (Monz et al., 2016) and nature parks, and their immediate sur-
roundings is exhausted, which shrinks the habitats of numerous plant and
animal species (Ament et al., 2008).
Marković Vukadin (2017) recognised the three most negative conse-
quences of the increase in mass visits to national and nature parks: the in-
crease in solid waste; wastewater; and transport. Within the context of
Plitvice Lakes National Park, through which state road D11 passes, Marković
(2015) also emphasised the problem of visitor safety in the national park due
to the increased number of vehicles present on the state road. Increased
toxic gas emissions, caused by the combustion of fossil fuels, produces air,
water, and land pollution. Additionally, noise pollution and light pollution
are also increasing (Müller, 2004; Newsome et al., 2013).
The indirect negative impact of transport on national parks and nature
parks that has arisen from the increase in their transport accessibility is re-
flected in the increase in the number of visitors primarily to the most attrac-
tive zones (the zones of the fundamental phenomena, due to which a par-
ticular area was characterised as protected). Consequently, there has been
an increase in the amount of solid and liquid waste (e.g. sewage), as well
as damage to fundamental phenomena (e.g. travertine barriers in Plitvice
Lakes and Krka national parks) (Opačić et al., 2005). From the tourism de-
mand aspect, the increased number of visitors during the peak season neg-
atively impacts the general tourist experience, which creates a negative per-
ception of overcrowding in Croatia’s protected areas.
Moreover, tourist flow in national and nature parks is characterised by
extreme spatial and temporal concentration, which increases negative im-
pacts on the environment (Gosar, 2017). Namely, the highest visitor pres-
sure is directed to the zones of fundamental phenomena, and on a yearly
level (during peak season) and weekly level (certain weekdays) (Williams,
2003), which the management boards of individual protected areas try to
mitigate by raising the entrance fees in peak season and limiting the daily
number of visitors or the number of visitors allowed in the protected area
simultaneously (Plummer, 2009). On the other hand, a smaller number of
tourists and recreational visitors in some national parks and nature parks
1 In Croatia, roads are categorised as follows (labelled with a letter and a number): mo-
torway = autocesta (Ax); state road = državna cesta (Dx); county road = županijska
cesta (Žx); local road = lokalna cesta (Lx). For the purpose of this chapter, the Croa-
tian abbreviated labels of individual roads will be used, e.g. state road D1.
30
2005). Simultaneously, ecologically valuable space within the borders of na-
tional parks (Monz et al., 2016) and nature parks, and their immediate sur-
roundings is exhausted, which shrinks the habitats of numerous plant and
animal species (Ament et al., 2008).
Marković Vukadin (2017) recognised the three most negative conse-
quences of the increase in mass visits to national and nature parks: the in-
crease in solid waste; wastewater; and transport. Within the context of
Plitvice Lakes National Park, through which state road D11 passes, Marković
(2015) also emphasised the problem of visitor safety in the national park due
to the increased number of vehicles present on the state road. Increased
toxic gas emissions, caused by the combustion of fossil fuels, produces air,
water, and land pollution. Additionally, noise pollution and light pollution
are also increasing (Müller, 2004; Newsome et al., 2013).
The indirect negative impact of transport on national parks and nature
parks that has arisen from the increase in their transport accessibility is re-
flected in the increase in the number of visitors primarily to the most attrac-
tive zones (the zones of the fundamental phenomena, due to which a par-
ticular area was characterised as protected). Consequently, there has been
an increase in the amount of solid and liquid waste (e.g. sewage), as well
as damage to fundamental phenomena (e.g. travertine barriers in Plitvice
Lakes and Krka national parks) (Opačić et al., 2005). From the tourism de-
mand aspect, the increased number of visitors during the peak season neg-
atively impacts the general tourist experience, which creates a negative per-
ception of overcrowding in Croatia’s protected areas.
Moreover, tourist flow in national and nature parks is characterised by
extreme spatial and temporal concentration, which increases negative im-
pacts on the environment (Gosar, 2017). Namely, the highest visitor pres-
sure is directed to the zones of fundamental phenomena, and on a yearly
level (during peak season) and weekly level (certain weekdays) (Williams,
2003), which the management boards of individual protected areas try to
mitigate by raising the entrance fees in peak season and limiting the daily
number of visitors or the number of visitors allowed in the protected area
simultaneously (Plummer, 2009). On the other hand, a smaller number of
tourists and recreational visitors in some national parks and nature parks
1 In Croatia, roads are categorised as follows (labelled with a letter and a number): mo-
torway = autocesta (Ax); state road = državna cesta (Dx); county road = županijska
cesta (Žx); local road = lokalna cesta (Lx). For the purpose of this chapter, the Croa-
tian abbreviated labels of individual roads will be used, e.g. state road D1.
30
