Naslov
Entrepreneurial Activities as a Factor of Ecotourism Development: The Case of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Autori
Čavlek, Nevenka ; Budimski, Vanja ; Ferjanić Hodak, Danijela

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u zbornicima skupova, cjeloviti rad (in extenso), znanstveni

Izvornik
14th EBES Conference - Barcelona Program and Abstract Book / Jonathan Batten - Istanbul : EBES Publications, 2014, 1838-1845

Skup
14th EBES Conference - Barcelona

Mjesto i datum
Barcelona, Španjolska, 23.10.2014. - 25.10.2014

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
resource protection; entrepreneurship; tourism development; ecotourism; Croatia

Sažetak
Tourism development in any destination highly depends on the quality of its resurces - both natural and cultural. The preservation of those resources should be the main focus of destination management in order to ensure long-term sustainability of tourism development. The main objective of this paper is to analyse the role of the public and the private sectors in terms of the preservation of natural resources and with the aim to develop ecotourism within a given community. When the resources are provided with an adequate level of protection and are presented in the tourism market as such, they are expected to attract some entrepreneurial activities and thus increase their quality and competitiveness. The final outcome of such activities should be not only ecological but also economic and socio- cultural sustainability of tourism development in the area. The paper analyses the mentioned entrepreneurial activities based on the case study of the Plitvice Lakes National Park situated in the Republic of Croatia that enjoys the protection of both national laws and the UNESCO. This is the oldest protected natural area in Croatia, and the most visited one as it attracts around one million visitors per year. The area of the national park was developed mostly due to tourism activities, providing the local entrepreneurs with an opportunity to distribute their products to tourists who seek local authentic products which increase the quality of their experiences in the destination. Consequently, the development of entrepreneurship in this area represents a highly sensitive process which should be scrutinised most thoroughly when deciding on the future development of this park's natural resources. New entrepreneurial activities should be implemented with the objective of raising the quality of products offered to tourists, but bearing in mind the park's carrying capacity. Alongside the case study method, the paper also includes comparative and statistical analyses of the available tourism data.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Ekonomija

POVEZANOST RADA