engleski

Environmental Impacts of Tourism on the Eastern Adriatic Coast – The Case of South Dalmatia, Croatia

Croatia is a Central European and Mediterranean country that has been highly oriented to tourism. Due to lower population density, different complex of tourist attractions, various concepts of development in the socialist and post-war period, tourism development in Croatia differed from other countries in the European Mediterranean. This paper investigates environmental impacts of tourism in South Dalmatia, the southernmost coastal and insular region in Croatia, located in the South Adriatic, which is highly oriented on coastal and cultural tourism. Goal of the paper is to determine environmental impacts of tourism and the perception of those impacts by the local population. The theoretical background of the research are the Butler’s (1980) tourism area life cycle model and its upgrades (Lundtorp and Wanhill, 2001 ; Pulina and Biagi, 2006 ; Ivars i Baidal et al., 2013), as well as other models that based on it (Russo, 2002 ; 2006 ; Garay and Cànoves, 2011 ; Ivars i Baidal et al., 2013). The results were obtained using descriptive statistics, field survey with the questionnaire survey, interviews, field observation and photo documenting, as well as GIS analysis of physical growth of settlements in the period 1970-2010. Tourism development in the socialist period was marked by the construction of large accommodation facilities supported by the state. Private initiatives were less emphasized, which resulted in the monoculture of Sun and Sea tourism, with simple tourism offer and high seasonality. In the post-war period the concept of tourism development was completely opposite. Lack of investments into the construction or reconstruction of hotels encouraged small private entrepreneurs and local inhabitants to rent rooms and apartments in their households to tourists. Reconstruction of existing houses or construction new ones, often with no permits and without sense for local ambient, caused intensive changes in the cultural landscape, particularly in the narrow coastal zone, often leading to the strip development. Impacts of tourism are also visible in the decrease in the number of dwellings for permanent residence due to depopulation, and in the accelerated growth in the second homes and dwellings used for renting to tourists. Local population perceives the environmental changes caused by tourism as mildly positive. Respondents think tourism contributed the revitalization of historical and traditional buildings, as well as organization and cleanliness. However the respondents see crowds, noise and pollution as main negative impacts of tourism, as well as illegal, unplanned and non-aesthetic construction. There are emphasized differences in the respondents opinion between the areas highly pressured by tourism (e.g. Dubrovnik), where the inhabitants are more aware and irritated by tourism, and the areas less pressured by tourism (e.g. Korčula), where environmental impacts are perceived more positive and further development of tourism is welcome.

tourism ; environmental impacts ; Croatia

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