Page 63 - 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. 63
rur al tourism in the surroundings of krka national park ...
ical site. The Park’s visitation system includes boat excursions, road trans-
portation, walking trails, and bicycle routes. In parallel to the increase in
the total number of visitors, the visitation system has been spreading out
spatially, i.e. new trails have been opened for visitors and more locales have
been made easily accessible.
Apart from trying to achieve a more balanced spatial distribution of
visitors6, an important goal has been to “activate” the area of the upper
course of the Krka River by attracting more visitors to the northern parts
of the Park. The Unknown Krka: the hidden treasures of the upper and lower
course of the Krka River project ran from 2015 to 2019 and was co-financed
by the European Regional Development Fund. It encompassed nature con-
servation, investments in infrastructure, visitor management, educational
and presentation activities, as well as cooperation with the local communi-
ty, hoping to influence the overall development of the area of the upper and
middle course of the Krka River (Krka National Park, n. d.).
Together with the increase in the complexity of Park’s functions, and
especially with the development of tourism and recreation, the number of
Park employees also increased. These jobs are related to the basic admin-
istrative functions, protection/preservation, maintenance, promotion of
natural and cultural heritage, scientific research, and tourism and visitor
management. In 2008 there were 114 permanent and 95 seasonal employees
(Pejnović and Radeljak, 2009), and in 2017 there were 214 permanent and
130 seasonal employees (SAO, 2019).
Most of the visitors of Krka National Park who were surveyed in 2013,
2017, and 2018 were staying in private accommodation (30–41%), followed
by hotels (23–28%), campsites (9–10%), boats (3–11%; unsurprising given
that there is a marina in nearby Skradin), etc. (Kontić, 2018; Krka National
Park, 2018a). The number of Park visitors staying in the surrounding area
is still relatively small. In general, among the local government units in
Šibenik-Knin County, excluding coastal settlements, the largest number of
beds, tourist arrivals, and overnight stays is found in the Šibenik, Skradin,
and Bilice areas (Tab. 1). All local units, however, saw an increase in the
number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays.
6 Most visitors surveyed in either 2013, 2017, or 2018 did not use the opportunity
to buy entrance tickets for multiple-day visits (Kontić, 2018; Krka National Park,
2018a).
61
ical site. The Park’s visitation system includes boat excursions, road trans-
portation, walking trails, and bicycle routes. In parallel to the increase in
the total number of visitors, the visitation system has been spreading out
spatially, i.e. new trails have been opened for visitors and more locales have
been made easily accessible.
Apart from trying to achieve a more balanced spatial distribution of
visitors6, an important goal has been to “activate” the area of the upper
course of the Krka River by attracting more visitors to the northern parts
of the Park. The Unknown Krka: the hidden treasures of the upper and lower
course of the Krka River project ran from 2015 to 2019 and was co-financed
by the European Regional Development Fund. It encompassed nature con-
servation, investments in infrastructure, visitor management, educational
and presentation activities, as well as cooperation with the local communi-
ty, hoping to influence the overall development of the area of the upper and
middle course of the Krka River (Krka National Park, n. d.).
Together with the increase in the complexity of Park’s functions, and
especially with the development of tourism and recreation, the number of
Park employees also increased. These jobs are related to the basic admin-
istrative functions, protection/preservation, maintenance, promotion of
natural and cultural heritage, scientific research, and tourism and visitor
management. In 2008 there were 114 permanent and 95 seasonal employees
(Pejnović and Radeljak, 2009), and in 2017 there were 214 permanent and
130 seasonal employees (SAO, 2019).
Most of the visitors of Krka National Park who were surveyed in 2013,
2017, and 2018 were staying in private accommodation (30–41%), followed
by hotels (23–28%), campsites (9–10%), boats (3–11%; unsurprising given
that there is a marina in nearby Skradin), etc. (Kontić, 2018; Krka National
Park, 2018a). The number of Park visitors staying in the surrounding area
is still relatively small. In general, among the local government units in
Šibenik-Knin County, excluding coastal settlements, the largest number of
beds, tourist arrivals, and overnight stays is found in the Šibenik, Skradin,
and Bilice areas (Tab. 1). All local units, however, saw an increase in the
number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays.
6 Most visitors surveyed in either 2013, 2017, or 2018 did not use the opportunity
to buy entrance tickets for multiple-day visits (Kontić, 2018; Krka National Park,
2018a).
61
