engleski

Profile of sustainability in some Mediterranean tourism destinations. Case study of Rovinj (Istria) in Croatia

Rovinj as a part of western Istria coast is good example of urban planning from the period of sixties of the previous century, when intensive tourism development has started in former Yugoslavia. This development was subject to relatively strict planning procedures enabling sustainable development of tourism before the term sustainable was in use. The plan from that period are even nowadays used as example of good planning procedures helping Croatia to avoid problems in many other Mediterranean countries exposed to spontaneous development in the previous century. The most important elements of this planning were avoiding of building infrastructure near the coastline, especially roads, and formation of relatively large and autonomous tourism resorts and town areas. This was done in order to avoid frequent commuting between tourist resorts and town causing traffic congestion and unnecessary transportation. A part of the concept was also reservation of certain areas for future tourism use through designation of such areas for camp sites in order to keep the coastal zone in natural condition. State ownership of land was a useful tool for such planning and that was the reason why Croatia avoided high building concentration that had happened in many other European Mediterranean destinations. There are four larger and three smaller zones of concentration of tourism facilities in the area that belongs to the town of Rovinj, all functioning as separate entities. All four bigger tourism zones are connected with town centre and state road network with additional roads, so there are no problems with concentration of car traffic. The central zone of the town is free of car traffic because the whole old town is pedestrian zone, except for local with special permission, with large parking area on the northern and southern edge of old town. Therefore Rovinj is gut example of tourist destination with high concentration of tourists, but without serious problems of car traffic, both traffic on the movement and traffic at the standstill.

tourism; profile of sustainability; Mediterranean tourism destinations; Rovinj; Croatia

Studija je dostupna na web adresi: http://www.planbleu.org/publications/Rovinj_Croatia_Klaric_2011.pdf