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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Potentials and Limits of the Plitvice Lakes National Park (PLNP) as Promoter for Sustainable Tourism in the Region

Antje Disterheft, Anne Nogueira, Chihiro Ettner, Frank Obmann, Joo Fernandes, Jonathan Janssens, Mara Holzenthal, Mariana Vilas-Boas

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09 European Seminar on Sustainable Development

09/04/2013

STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Index

Group members
2

Sustainable Development and Tourism


3

Why Sustainable Tourism? Why Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia?


4

Research Objectives
5

Case Study: PLNP


6

Sustainability analysis of the PLNP


7

Recommendations
8

Conclusion
2

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09 European Seminar on Sustainable Development

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Group Members

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Group Members
Joo Fernandes
Background: Degree on Biology and Geology; teacher of Nature Sciences; currently taking a master on Environmental Citizenship and Participation

Antje Disterheft (Tutor)


Background: gratuateed in Social Work, Master in Environmental Citizenship& Participation, PhD grant in the field of Social Sustainability and Development

Anne Nogueira
Background: Chemical Engineer/Phycics and Chemistry teacher; currently taking a master on Environmental Citizenship and Participation

Jonathan Janssens
Background: Degree on Environmental Management and currently taking a master on Environmental Science

Chihiro Ettner
Background: Student at FernUni Hagen for the MSc in Environmental Studies, BA in Russian and East European Area Studies, Work: Sales Coordinator, Sales Representative

Mara Holzenthal
Background: student of cultural sciences and sustainability studies in humanities

Frank Obmann
Background: student of the teacher training for mathematics and geography

Mariana Vilas-Boas
Background: Degree on Biology and Master on Geological Heritage and Geoconservation .

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09 European Seminar on Sustainable Development

09/04/2013

STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Sustainable Development and Tourism

Sustainable Development

Is an ongoing process of searching and negotiation to meet the needs of present generations, preserving the Earth, Life and Diversity, using resources efficiently, increasing public awareness to interplay economic, social, political, ecological and cultural issues, and intensifying the dialogue and active involvement of the citizens to guarantee that also future generations meet their own needs.

"Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities

Sustainable Tourism (UNWTO)

continuous process of raising awareness about sustainability


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Negotation and stakeholders interplay

build consensus in economic, social, environmental, cultural and institutional/political aspects.

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Why Sustainable Tourism? Why Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia?

All the group members traveled a lot and love to travel. The tourism sector is one of the fastest growing sectors with most employees in the world (UNWTO, 2010) big impact

Croatian region, a tourist destination already implemented the ideological transition from mass tourism to quality and sustainable tourism, was interesting to the majority of the group members. PLNP is the oldest and biggest Croatian national park, which offers great natural and cultural resources.

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09 European Seminar on Sustainable Development

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Research objectives

The main objective


To make recommendations on how the Plitvice Lakes National Park and its region can contribute to more sustainable development through its tourism.

Other objectives
Determine how can the Plitvice Lakes National Park as a sustainable tourism region promote more sustainable development in the region and Croatia. Identify the criteria of sustainable tourism to accomplish sustainable development of the park and the region and how can these criteria be applied to PLNP. Define the influence of PLNP on the local residents and to what degree can they interplay in the national park. Determine the role of the park in education of future generations.

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09 European Seminar on Sustainable Development

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Case Study: PLNP


5

Lets have a quick look

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Case Study: PLNP


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Facts

The Plitvice Lakes region has a

Fig 1 PLNP location (Croatia) (Google earth, 2013)

status as a national park since 1949 UNESCO World Heritage, since 1979 Area 297 km2 The karst geomorphology and the biodiversity of PLNP are elements of unique value in the world, features that constitute one of the main tourist attractions of the region. Actually more than 1 200 000 visitors /year (PLNP Management Plan, 2011)
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12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09 European Seminar on Sustainable Development

ational trips.
STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Case Study: PLNP


5

Facts

Fig. 2 - Constantly increasing visitors in PLNP in the period from 1894 to 2011 (Tourist Board of the Municipality of Plitvice Report, 2011; PLNP Management Plan, 2007; Wikipedia, Plitvice Lakes National Park)

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09 European Seminar on Sustainable Development

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ational trips.
STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Case Study: PLNP


5

Facts

Fig 3 - Variation of number of visitors through the year from 2007 to 2011 (Based on Tourist Board of the Municipality of Plitvice Reports, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Case Study: PLNP


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Facts

Division of stakeholders according to analyses level


Macro: UNESCO; IUCN; Scientific Community

PLNP
Meso: Ministries; Local Government

Micro: Accomodation and restoration facilities; Travel agencies; Transport providers; Local population; PLNP administration and workers; Tourists.

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Sustainability analysis of PLNP

Analysis based on Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria

In the case study, we analysed the Plitvice Lakes National Park in four categories:

Section A: Sustainable management Section B: Socioeconomic impacts Section C: Cultural impacts Section D: Environmental impacts (including consumption of resources, reducing pollution, and conserving biodiversity and landscapes)

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Sustainability analysis of PLNP - SWOT Analysis

Multi-purpose attraction through a whole year Potentials of further attraction Very rich natural assets Cultural and architectural heritage Integrated comprehensive management institution / organizational structure with national and international standards Active close cooperation with many institutions, non-governmental organizations and individuals at the national and international levels for the study and care of the park: funding and cooperation networks Self-financing park Most important driver of the regional economy

Public Relations
Clear fundamental objectives of the park strongly linked to sustainability

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Sustainability analysis of PLNP - SWOT Analysis

Dependence on the regional economy Few unique tourism attractions Seasonality of the number of tourists Possible commercial activities related to the tourism of the PLNP (Absence of information)

Shortage in trained labour


Decreasing of local population

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Sustainability analysis of PLNP - SWOT Analysis

The main economic opportunities are employment/business opportunities for local communities

Product and market opportunities


promotion methods for the parks advertising Community enhancement and socio-cultural benefits financing of the conservation of natural and cultural heritage monitoring and controlling, innovation and scientific research funding Offering high quality and accurate information on the park big potential for tours and activities

seasonality of the visitors


creation of accessible to all trails and tourist spots

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Sustainability analysis of PLNP - SWOT Analysis

Natural threats

Anthropogenic threats
problems with chub and char eutrophication Subterranean habitats in the park are threatened discharging of wastewaters higher burden of visitors the hazardous freight and fuels transported

High dependence of foreign tourists visiting the park

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Recommendations

Enhancement of Educational Role

Sustainability issues Cooperation with national educational institutions and national and international parks

Cooperation with local community

Create regular opportunities to get greater understanding, respect for the value of the park and sustainable development to enable collaboration and communication. Activate local participation in sustainable development of tourism

Seasonality management

Introducing shoulder season fare Introducing low cost touristic packages Hold special or unique events/attraction and support off-season community initiatives

Promote local complementary attractions


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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Recommendations

Quality management and visitors satisfaction

Transparent way of evaluation of the performance Check and monitor the satisfaction of visitors to improve based upon visitors' opinions

Advertisement/promotion of the PLNP

More effective visual types of promotion Cooperation and networks Implemented a database into the website of the tourist board Empirical studies about the visitors motivation

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09 European Seminar on Sustainable Development

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Conclusions

PLNP has many action assignments and problems but is well-aware of this and in the process of inter playing economic, social, ecological and cultural issues and intensifying the active involvement of its stakeholders Their activities and efforts are not transparent enough to ensure the feasibility of implementation. Much room and of great importance to improve the way of representing its strategies and assessment methodologies for more transparency to involve stakeholders. The key of our recommendations are continuous efforts using clear and transparent indicators for monitoring towards the best possible balance between the fragile immense nature and the tourism.

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

After the research what changed?


How do I work in groups?
How do I travel? What choices do I make?

How do I see the world?

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09 European Seminar on Sustainable Development

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STR2 - Sustainable Tourism and the Region Case Study PLNP Croatia 2013

Thank you for your attention!

Antje Disterheft, Anne Nogueira, Chihiro Ettner, Frank Obmann, Joo Fernandes, Jonathan Janssens, Mara Holzenthal, Mariana Vilas-Boas

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09 European Seminar on Sustainable Development

09/04/2013

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