Sustainable development of tourism at the Medvednica Natural Park

Čovjek je vlastitim napretkom i razvojem godinama eksploatirao okoliš. Tek sredinom prošlog stoljeća znanstvenici počinju upozoravati na posljedice takova ponašanja i ukazivati na potrebu razvoja alternativnim metodama, što je u konačnici definirano pojmom održivog razvoja. Kako je degradaciju prirode uzrokovala i pojava masovnog turizma počinje se promišljati o održivom razvoju u turizmu koji će dovesti u ravnotežu ekonomsku i ekološku komponentu. On treba doprinijeti razvoju gospodarstva i društva, ali bez štete za okoliš. U ovom radu istraženo je stanje i daljnje mogućnost razvoja održivog turizma u Parku prirode Medvednica. Primarna metoda za provođenje istraživanja je intervju, a od ostalih metoda su korištene proučavanje dokumenata i analiza sadržaja. Dobiveni rezultati ukazali su da trenutno stanje Parka nije u potpunosti zadovoljavajuće, ali postoji izraziti potencijal za razvoj održivog turizma.Humankind has always exploited its environment for its own progress and development. It was only around the middle of the last century, however, that scientists began to warn of the consequences of this behaviour and stress the need to develop alternative methods, an approach ultimately summed up in the concept of sustainable development. The phenomenon of mass tourism has contributed to this degradation of nature. This has caused people to look at sustainable development within tourism as a way of promoting a better balance between the economic and the ecological components. Tourism should contribute to the development of the economy and society, but without harming the environment. This paper presents research into the current status of and prospects for the sustainable development of tourism at the Medvednica Natural Park. The principle research method was interview. Documentary review and content analysis were also used. The results suggest that even though the current situation at the Park is not entirely satisfactory, the potential for developing sustainable tourism is significant