Dr. sc. Saša Poljanec-Borić: Postoji li potreba za EU direktivom o prekomjernom turizmu?; Plitvička jezera, 15.-16. 9. 2023.
Portal ESD objavio je radove s 99. International Scientific Conference on Economic and Social Development, održane na Plitvičkim jezerima 15.-16. rujna 2023., među kojima i rad dr. sc. Saše Poljanec-Borić pod naslovom TOURISM, NATIONAL PARKS, AND CLIMATE CHANGE: IS THERE A NEED FOR AN EU DIRECTIVE ON OVER-TOURISM?
Book of Proceedings: Economic and Social Development – 99th International Scientific Conference on Economic and Social Development, Plitvice Lakes, 15-16 September, 2023
Abstract
TOURISM, NATIONAL PARKS, AND CLIMATE CHANGE: IS THERE A NEED FOR AN EU DIRECTIVE ON OVER-TOURISM?
Saša Poljanec-Borić
The article is written as a conceptual paper reflecting on interrelation of nature protection and tourism in the context of European Green Deal. A focus of the article is the problem of overtourism present in specific EU destinations and in Croatia as a whole. The argument supporting the hypothesis that Croatia as a country is burdened with overtourism is linked to the statistical evidence showing that tourism contributes roughly 25% of country’s GDP. Overtourism is perceived as structural problem inherent to unregulated flow of tourists in Europe and additionally supported by chaotic contraction of public sector in transitional economies. Thus, it is suggested that overtourism is an EU problem. The context of European Green Plan as a strategic EU development choice in the era of climate change is addressed. Within this context the growth of tourist visits to National Park “Plitivička jezera” is discussed as an empirical example of overtourism where the context of European Green Plan, two Directives on Biodiversity and overtourism interrelate. Cases of overtourism in Barcelona, Venice, Amsterdam and Prag are also tackled as examples of scope of overtourism problems in Europe. It is concluded that body of secondary laws which ensure the rule of law in the EU are tools to regulate (negative) externalities immanent to overtourism. Therefore, a Decision on overtourism in Croatia and an EU Direction on overtourism is suggested.
Keywords: Nature protection, overtourism, European Green Deal, National Park “Plitvička jezera, Decision, Direction, European Union
