engleski

Heritage cities as living cities Is there a socially sustainable model?

Mass tourism and increased interest of tourists in Croatian cities, especially those with historic centers and listed on UNESCO World heritage list, leads to overcrowding during the peak of tourist season, degradation of quality of life and depopulation along with the commercialization of historic centers of cities like Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik. The historical centers and heritage in general are “overused”, they lose their authenticity, identity and inhabitants. While to the tourists they serve as a lovely scenery for snapshots and selfies, historical cities in Croatia lost most of their functions, services and facilities that are needed for everyday living. Loss of diversity of business and service offers, along with problems of noise and pollution, fuels the degradation of quality of life and out-migration of local residents. Studies show that historic centers suffer also from the infrastructural problems, problems of carrying capacity and the privatization and commercialization of public space. These unsustainable conditions and trends are not easy to change, but it is precisely why it is important to start trying. A change from the current unsustainable, profit-driven model of tourism is needed on the level of political decisions, but also on the level of values and everyday practices of the people. A precondition for a more sustainable model of development and governance of cities is the decision of local population and the city government to work together, with the clear notion that the heritage (tangible and intangible) and space are important assets that need to be tended with care and given to the next generations in good condition. The aim of this paper is to point out, based on research and interdisciplinary analysis of previous and current situation, the major issues that need solving and propose a set of measures on the level of urban planning, city governance, and on the level of local community.

World Heritage Site, sustainable tourism, urban revitalization

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