Publisher: Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA
Year: 2025
ISNN 0350-7599
eISSN 1821-2808
Protected natural areas, as a key element in the global development of sustainable tourism, play a particularly important role in local and regional development and are crucial for strengthening resilience to crises. In Croatia, where sustainable tourism is one of the strategic development goals, there is a growing risk that increasing tourism activities in protected areas may lead to their degradation.
This paper presents the results of the first study in Croatia examining the correlation between visitor numbers in national and nature parks and the identified threats during the period from 2018 to 2023. It explores the relationship between the level of protection, geographic location (coastal vs. inland parks), and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across three distinct periods: before, during, and after the crisis.
The findings reveal changes in visitation patterns and pressures on core natural phenomena, underscoring the need for systematic risk monitoring and management. The recommendations focus on strengthening the resilience of protected areas to ensure the long-term sustainability of tourism and the well-being of local communities.
