engleski

Abandoned Tourism Resorts in Croatia: The consequences of discordant spatial planning and tourism development policies

This article critically examines the challenges brought about by the abandoned tourism resorts in Croatia. It is argued that resorts’ demise was primarily a result of incompatible policy networks between different bureaux and sectors, and because of lack of institutional/bureaucratic cooperation. It is further contested that the resorts’ downfall might had something to do with incompetent management and “creative” accounting, and then finally, because of the Homeland war. It is further contested that many of these huge resorts were built with an “expiry date”, that is, some were poorly constructed, some were inadequately maintained, and economically, some were a “two-legged” stool, even before the Homeland war. Since the government continues to plan for and allocate new areas for tourism, the abandoned tourism resorts are an indication of an irresponsible and irrational use of valuable land, allowing further degradation and pollution of local and regional land resources, and a gross mismanagement of the existing natural, economic, and cultural capital.

Croatia, abandoned tourism resorts, spatial planning policies, tourism development policies.

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