Page 69 - 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. 69
rur al tourism in the surroundings of krka national park ...
Šibenik, their proximity to the sea, and even proximity to other large cen-
tres along the coast’.
Local government initiative has also been important in tourism devel-
opment. This is visible in several EU-funded projects, such as the “Tourism
Development in Krka National Park boundary areas” (2014–2016), “Adriatic
Canyoning” (2017–2019), and “Natura Drniš” (2017–2019). These projects
consisted of activities such as creating bicycle trails, walking paths, and
setting up a zip line in the Čikola River canyon. Furthermore, they includ-
ed the development of marketing and management plans, and the crea-
tion of the Centre for Development of Competencies for Rural Tourism in
Pakovo Selo—an info centre for those who are involved with or are plan-
ning to involve themselves with rural tourism. According to an interview-
ee from the local government, they would like to motivate visitors of the
Park to stay in this area longer, via projects and the development of tour-
ism infrastructure.
Overall, the main tourist activities in the Town of Drniš are diverse.
In terms of cultural tourism, the main attraction is the collection of works
of the famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović, who hailed from the area.
Active and adventure tourism activities include walking, hiking, cycling,
free climbing, canyoning, and riding a zip line. The local gastronomy is
also attractive to visitors—local wines, rakija (brandy), olive oil, pršut, and
panceta (pancetta). A couple of interviewees stressed the importance of
Drniški pršut: ‘. . . what we have is this pršut as a product making this area
recognisable’.
The positive impacts of tourism in the local area, according to inter-
viewees, are visible in infrastructural development, new potentials and
opportunities for the local population, improvements in quality of life,
and protection of natural and cultural heritage. The area has seen invest-
ments in the renovation of old houses, which are then rented out to tour-
ists. Interviewees did not focus on the potentially negative sides to these
trends.
What is needed in terms of the local tourism supply is to improve ca-
tering services and the selection of restaurants, i.e. diversify and expand
the gastronomic supply. Furthermore, better cooperation and networking
would be another boost to tourism development, or in words of an actor: ‘I
think that if everyone would work together, this would go much faster and
that there would be much better effects’. It is also important to have good
long-term effects of different projects, where different institutions contin-
67
Šibenik, their proximity to the sea, and even proximity to other large cen-
tres along the coast’.
Local government initiative has also been important in tourism devel-
opment. This is visible in several EU-funded projects, such as the “Tourism
Development in Krka National Park boundary areas” (2014–2016), “Adriatic
Canyoning” (2017–2019), and “Natura Drniš” (2017–2019). These projects
consisted of activities such as creating bicycle trails, walking paths, and
setting up a zip line in the Čikola River canyon. Furthermore, they includ-
ed the development of marketing and management plans, and the crea-
tion of the Centre for Development of Competencies for Rural Tourism in
Pakovo Selo—an info centre for those who are involved with or are plan-
ning to involve themselves with rural tourism. According to an interview-
ee from the local government, they would like to motivate visitors of the
Park to stay in this area longer, via projects and the development of tour-
ism infrastructure.
Overall, the main tourist activities in the Town of Drniš are diverse.
In terms of cultural tourism, the main attraction is the collection of works
of the famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović, who hailed from the area.
Active and adventure tourism activities include walking, hiking, cycling,
free climbing, canyoning, and riding a zip line. The local gastronomy is
also attractive to visitors—local wines, rakija (brandy), olive oil, pršut, and
panceta (pancetta). A couple of interviewees stressed the importance of
Drniški pršut: ‘. . . what we have is this pršut as a product making this area
recognisable’.
The positive impacts of tourism in the local area, according to inter-
viewees, are visible in infrastructural development, new potentials and
opportunities for the local population, improvements in quality of life,
and protection of natural and cultural heritage. The area has seen invest-
ments in the renovation of old houses, which are then rented out to tour-
ists. Interviewees did not focus on the potentially negative sides to these
trends.
What is needed in terms of the local tourism supply is to improve ca-
tering services and the selection of restaurants, i.e. diversify and expand
the gastronomic supply. Furthermore, better cooperation and networking
would be another boost to tourism development, or in words of an actor: ‘I
think that if everyone would work together, this would go much faster and
that there would be much better effects’. It is also important to have good
long-term effects of different projects, where different institutions contin-
67
