Page 44 - 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. 44
challenges of tourism development in protected areas of croatia and slovenia
of visitors to nature parks located near large cities with high recreational
demand (e.g. Medvednica, Žumberak-Samoborsko Gorje, Učka) is signifi-
cantly higher than official data. It can be assumed that the aforementioned
nature parks have a higher number of visitors than most national parks.
For the most visited parks—Plitvice Lakes and Krka—there were
three, i.e. two and a half times more visitors than all visits to the rest of the
national parks combined, confirming the significantly higher general tour-
ist attractiveness of national parks than of nature parks.
Plitvice Lakes is the most visited national park in Croatia, because it is
the only Croatian protected area included in the UNESCO World Nature
Heritage list. In other words, this status provides the Park a greater level of
attraction than other Croatian national and nature parks, because it guar-
antees a certain sensation or “wow-effect” to visitors, i.e. promising to be a
memorable tourism experience (Opačić, 2019). Due to the aforementioned,
as well to the accommodation capacity in and around the protected area,
it should be observed as a tourism destination in and of itself and pillar of
tourism development of the wider area (Lika, Kordun).
Among other national parks, Krka National Park stands out in visitor
numbers. Its high number of visits is due to the Park’s exceptional level at-
tractiveness to tourists, high transport accessibility due to the nearby town
(Skradin) and strong coastal tourist centre (Šibenik), as well as its motor-
way connection to other leading tourism destinations along the Adriatic
coast. Other national parks that stand out in number of visitors (Kornati,
Brijuni, Mljet, and Paklenica) are also situated on the Croatian Littoral,
which is the leading tourism area of Croatia.
In contrast to the aforementioned parks, Northern Velebit and Risnjak
national parks, despite their level of ecological preservation and tourist at-
tractiveness, are significantly less visited. Both of these national parks en-
compass some of the most well-preserved mountainous areas of Croatia,
and they have lower transport accessibility than most of the national parks
located on the coast and islands. A significant reason for lower visitor num-
bers is also the fact that the most attractive sights of the Northern Velebit
and Risnjak national parks (certain summits of Velebit, Premužić Trail,
Veliki Risnjak Peak, the source of the Kupa River) are inaccessible by car,
thus demanding more time and effort in order to visit them.
The most prominent nature parks in terms of visitor numbers are
definitively Telašćica and Vransko Lake. The reason for this is their geo-
graphical position on the Croatian Littoral, the leading tourism area in the
42
of visitors to nature parks located near large cities with high recreational
demand (e.g. Medvednica, Žumberak-Samoborsko Gorje, Učka) is signifi-
cantly higher than official data. It can be assumed that the aforementioned
nature parks have a higher number of visitors than most national parks.
For the most visited parks—Plitvice Lakes and Krka—there were
three, i.e. two and a half times more visitors than all visits to the rest of the
national parks combined, confirming the significantly higher general tour-
ist attractiveness of national parks than of nature parks.
Plitvice Lakes is the most visited national park in Croatia, because it is
the only Croatian protected area included in the UNESCO World Nature
Heritage list. In other words, this status provides the Park a greater level of
attraction than other Croatian national and nature parks, because it guar-
antees a certain sensation or “wow-effect” to visitors, i.e. promising to be a
memorable tourism experience (Opačić, 2019). Due to the aforementioned,
as well to the accommodation capacity in and around the protected area,
it should be observed as a tourism destination in and of itself and pillar of
tourism development of the wider area (Lika, Kordun).
Among other national parks, Krka National Park stands out in visitor
numbers. Its high number of visits is due to the Park’s exceptional level at-
tractiveness to tourists, high transport accessibility due to the nearby town
(Skradin) and strong coastal tourist centre (Šibenik), as well as its motor-
way connection to other leading tourism destinations along the Adriatic
coast. Other national parks that stand out in number of visitors (Kornati,
Brijuni, Mljet, and Paklenica) are also situated on the Croatian Littoral,
which is the leading tourism area of Croatia.
In contrast to the aforementioned parks, Northern Velebit and Risnjak
national parks, despite their level of ecological preservation and tourist at-
tractiveness, are significantly less visited. Both of these national parks en-
compass some of the most well-preserved mountainous areas of Croatia,
and they have lower transport accessibility than most of the national parks
located on the coast and islands. A significant reason for lower visitor num-
bers is also the fact that the most attractive sights of the Northern Velebit
and Risnjak national parks (certain summits of Velebit, Premužić Trail,
Veliki Risnjak Peak, the source of the Kupa River) are inaccessible by car,
thus demanding more time and effort in order to visit them.
The most prominent nature parks in terms of visitor numbers are
definitively Telašćica and Vransko Lake. The reason for this is their geo-
graphical position on the Croatian Littoral, the leading tourism area in the
42
