Analysis of Ecotourism Development Potential in Protected Areas in the Republic of Croatia and Recommendations

Apart from the traditional summer–seasonal tourism offer at the Adriatic coast and islands, other forms of sustainable tourist activities in the continental part of Croatia are not developed enough. Although important, the capacities in protected natural areas, national parks and nature parks are not sufficiently used. In this article, besides the theory of ecotourism, world experience and standards related to tourism development in protected natural areas, the results of the survey on visitors’ perception of the tourist offer in North-Western part of the Republic of Croatia (mountainous part of Gorski Kotar and Lika, including the whole of Velebit and Velika Kapela) are presented. It covers four National Parks (Plitvice Lakes, Paklenica, Northern Velebit and Risnjak) and the Nature Park Velebit. It is a typical karst area with all its characteristics. The results of the survey conducted during the summer of 2004 present in detail the visitors’ perception of the national parks and the nature park as well as their quality and availability of the tourist offer. The recommendation regarding ecotourism development in protected natural areas in Croatia refers to the preparation of overall marketing for all protected areas and joint promotion at Croatian and international market