engleski

"Small island for great holiday": The impact of tourism on everyday life on the island of Korčula

Following the development of tourism in the whole coastal region of Croatia, the island of Korčula transformed from a place of frequent overseas emigration at the beginning of the 20th Century into a rather prosperous island. At least it appears to be so to the outsider’s gaze. Despite the obvious economic benefits tourism brought to the island, there are negative effects as well. The globalising forces that are causing the ‘shrinking of the world’ are also bringing major changes into the way of islanders’ life. The decline of the manufacturing industry and lack of adequate jobs has led to a brain drain from the island and new problems, such as increased drug abuse. How do islanders see this ambiguous situation themselves? How do they explain the gradual changes they witness? The paraphrased slogan of Croatian Tourist Board mentioned in the title of this paper refers ironically to the fact that the economy of Korčula (and in general of Croatia) is too dependent on tourism, neglecting other economic and social problems.

anthropology; Korčula island; tourism; change

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