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The Public Sector Interventionism Regarding Tourism Development – the Example of Croatia

The development of tourism needs to be managed and not left uncontrolled. The public sector approaches tourism with special interest due to its positive impact on the economy. However, in order to realize the benefits of the effects of tourism, the public sector must achieve certain prerequisites for the development of tourism. Ultimately, the development of tourism must stimulate the development of the economic activities that do not belong to the tourism sector. Achieving a balance between the needs of each interested business and a sustainable development of tourist destinations is a real challenge. Therefore, the management of tourism is a complex task and there are good reasons why the public sector is usually in charge of its good functioning in society. The fundamental role of the public sector in tourism lies in planning its development. The public sector by its intervening in tourism development seeks to achieve its long-term sustainable development, i.e. the maximization of benefits from tourism activities while preserving the attractiveness of tourist destinations. Frequently limited and shared interests result in the fact that a particular destination has no defined strategy with a vision of the future forms tourism is likely to take. The effects of tourism are difficult to monitor due to the structural nature of the tourism sector. However, in perspective, each destination that avoids planning will not evaluate systematically its position in the market. Regardless the applied form of tourism development in a certain destination, it needs to have a strategic approach in identifying and using a number of tourism resources. The reasons for the public sector interventionism in connection with the strategic objectives of tourism development can be systematized in the following two sets of issues: seasonal and geographic redistribution of tourist activities. Successful management of tourism as much as tourism planning and regulation of activities related to tourism, requires coordination between government bodies, interest groups, private sector and the involvement of local and regional government. The public sector, on the one hand, generally has a reactive role in terms of the regulation and control of tourist activities on the other hand, has a proactive role in planning and managing tourism. The public sector manages the activities of public importance. Since tourism is resulting in significant implications which are of public importance - the public sector faces an imperative of being engaged in planning and controlling tourist activities, or generally to manage the development of tourism. Permanent growth of tourism requires from the public sector to assume the role of a coordinator of overall tourism activities. In this context, the performance evaluation of tourism policy in a specific tourist destination is often a political issue, resulting in conflicts among political options, which is especially the case in Croatia.

tourism, public sector, tourism destination, tourism development, interventionism

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