Page 79 - 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. 79
tourism in protected areas and the transformation of mljet island, croatia
spread from the mainland to the islands later, and caused severe transfor-
mations in some small island communities (See: Starc, 2001; Faričić et al.,
2010; Šulc and Zlatić, 2014; Šulc, 2016). Only protected areas in the coastal
zone, with stricter regulation regimes, remained partially spared from un-
planned and chaotic tourism construction. At the same time, most islands
experienced highly negative demographic processes (Nejašmić, 1992; Lajić,
2006; Lajić and Mišetić, 2006; Nejašmić and Mišetić, 2006), which have
only recently begun to show signs of improvement.
This chapter, therefore, investigates to what extent tourism has contrib-
uted to demographic changes and socio-economic processes on Croatian
islands, using the case of Mljet, a medium-sized Adriatic island with a
highly-preserved natural environment and a small population. Goals of the
chapter are: (1) to investigate the role of tourism in demographic processes
on Mljet; (2) to determine the impact of tourism on the socio-economic de-
velopment of the island; and (3) to measure the intensity of the pressure of
tourism on the local community.
Research methods
The research is based on “desk” methods that involve the analysis of data
on tourism, population, and vital events. Statistical data on tourism con-
sist of the number and structure of tourist arrivals, overnight stays (from
1966 to 2016), and tourist beds (from 1976 to 2016). Data was not analysed
on a yearly basis, rather every fifth year was compared. Data was used in its
original form to analyse tourism development and as combined indicators
to estimate the social pressure of tourism—tourism function index (number
of tourist beds per 100 inhabitants) and tourism intensity (number of tour-
ist arrivals per 100 inhabitants).
The analysis of demographic processes used census data from the
1961–2011 period, consisting of population size, migration features, age-sex
composition, education, economic activity, sector of activity, and agricul-
tural population. Despite the changes in the methodology of censuses (cen-
suses from 1961, 1971, 1981, and 1991 used de jure methodology and the 2001
and 2011 censuses used place of usual residence), the minor discrepancy in
the population stemming from different methodologies is irrelevant for the
purposes of this research and data was used in its original form. It is impor-
tant to note that data on sector of economic activity was not available for
1981, as well as data on agricultural population for 2011, which is no longer
registered in censuses.
77
spread from the mainland to the islands later, and caused severe transfor-
mations in some small island communities (See: Starc, 2001; Faričić et al.,
2010; Šulc and Zlatić, 2014; Šulc, 2016). Only protected areas in the coastal
zone, with stricter regulation regimes, remained partially spared from un-
planned and chaotic tourism construction. At the same time, most islands
experienced highly negative demographic processes (Nejašmić, 1992; Lajić,
2006; Lajić and Mišetić, 2006; Nejašmić and Mišetić, 2006), which have
only recently begun to show signs of improvement.
This chapter, therefore, investigates to what extent tourism has contrib-
uted to demographic changes and socio-economic processes on Croatian
islands, using the case of Mljet, a medium-sized Adriatic island with a
highly-preserved natural environment and a small population. Goals of the
chapter are: (1) to investigate the role of tourism in demographic processes
on Mljet; (2) to determine the impact of tourism on the socio-economic de-
velopment of the island; and (3) to measure the intensity of the pressure of
tourism on the local community.
Research methods
The research is based on “desk” methods that involve the analysis of data
on tourism, population, and vital events. Statistical data on tourism con-
sist of the number and structure of tourist arrivals, overnight stays (from
1966 to 2016), and tourist beds (from 1976 to 2016). Data was not analysed
on a yearly basis, rather every fifth year was compared. Data was used in its
original form to analyse tourism development and as combined indicators
to estimate the social pressure of tourism—tourism function index (number
of tourist beds per 100 inhabitants) and tourism intensity (number of tour-
ist arrivals per 100 inhabitants).
The analysis of demographic processes used census data from the
1961–2011 period, consisting of population size, migration features, age-sex
composition, education, economic activity, sector of activity, and agricul-
tural population. Despite the changes in the methodology of censuses (cen-
suses from 1961, 1971, 1981, and 1991 used de jure methodology and the 2001
and 2011 censuses used place of usual residence), the minor discrepancy in
the population stemming from different methodologies is irrelevant for the
purposes of this research and data was used in its original form. It is impor-
tant to note that data on sector of economic activity was not available for
1981, as well as data on agricultural population for 2011, which is no longer
registered in censuses.
77
