Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy for the Broader Kornati National Park Area __________________________________________________________________________________ Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy for the Broader Kornati National Park Area Murter, February 2015 __________________________________________________________________________________ 1 Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy for the Broader Kornati National Park Area __________________________________________________________________________________ CONTENT 1 INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 2 PROJECT AREA……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5 2.1. IDENTIFYING THE AREA…………………………………………………………………………………………………….5 3 GENERAL INFORMATION………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6 3.1. POSITION OF THE KORNATI ARCHIPELAGO…………………………………………………………………….6 3.2. PROTECTED AREAS MANAGEMENT………………………………………..…………………………………….. 7 3.3. PROTECTION OF THE KORNATI ARCHIPELAGO……………………………………………………………….7 3.4. CLIMATE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8 3.5. CHARACTERISTICS OF KORNATI NATIONAL PARK…………………………………………………………..9 3.5.1. VALUE OF THE AREA………………………………………………………………………………………..9 3.5.1.1. NATURAL VALUES…………………………………………………………………………………. 9 3.5.1.1.1. LAND FLORA AND FAUNA……………………………………………………………..9 3.5.1.1.2. MARINE FLORA AND FAUNA……………………………………………………….10 3.5.1.1.3. GEOLOGY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY……………………………………………..11 3.5.1.2. ECOLOGICAL NETWORK……………………………………………………………………12 3.5.1.3. CULTURAL VALUES……………………………………………………………………………14 3.5.1.4. TRADITIONAL HERITAGE………………………………………………………………..…15 3.5.2. ZONING WITHIN THE PARK……………………………………………………………………………17 3.6. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ŽUT-SIT ARCHIPELAGO IMPORTANT LANDSCAPE………………19 3.7. RESIDENTS WITHIN THE CHARTER AREA..........................................................................22 3.8. INFRASTRUCTURE…………………………………………………………………………………………………………22 4 VISIT SYSTEM………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….25 4.1. LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK................................................................................................25 4.2. VISITOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DOCUMENTS……………………………………………………………26 4.3. MARKET AND TOURISM TREND ANALYSIS…………………………………………………………………..26 4.4. CURRENT OFFER…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..28 4.4.1. Boating and overnight stays in the Kornati islands........................................28 4.4.2. Excursions……..…………………………………..…………………………………………………………..30 4.4.3. Diving and snorkelling……………………………………………………………………………….….31 4.4.4. Hiking to viewpoints along trails with visits to structures of cultural and historical significance………………………………………………………………………..…..32 4.4.5. Educational Trails……………………………………………………………………………………….…34 4.4.6. Restaurants and Tavern (Konoba)…………………………………….…………………………..35 4.4.7. Accommodation…………..……………………………………………………………………………….36 4.4.8. Observing the Plant and Animal World……………………………………………………..….36 4.4.9. Events……………………………………………………………………………………………………………37 4.4.10. Vrulje Visitor Centre……………………………………………………………………………………38 4.5. ASSESMENT OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY OFFER AND USER PROFILE IN THE BROADER KORNATI NATIONAL PARK AREA…………………………………………………………………39 4.6. UTILISATION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES (PA-BAT)……………………………………………………….. 43 5 WORK OF THE FORUM45 5.1. REQUIREMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN CHARTER…………………………………………………………….45 5.2. ROLE OF KORNATI NATIONAL PARK PUBLIC INSTITUTION………………………………………….47 __________________________________________________________________________________ 2 Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy for the Broader Kornati National Park Area __________________________________________________________________________________ 5.3. FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT………………………………………………….. 47 6 STRATEGY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..50 6.1. SWOT ANALYSIS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………50 6.2. CURRENT SITUATION…….…..………………………………..………………………………………………….…52 6.3. VISION…………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………….54 6.4. GENERAL AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES…………………………………………………………………………...55 7 ACTION PLAN……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….57 8 COMMUNICATION PLAN…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….111 8.1. PROMOTION OF THE PROTECTED AREA AS A DESTINATION……………………………………..111 8.2. IMPACT ON OTHER USERS………………………………………………………………………………………….112 8.3. INFORMATION ON ORIENTATION………………………………………………………………………….…..113 8.4. INFORMATION CENTERS IN THE PARK……………………………………………………………………….113 8.5.PROVIDING INFORMATION TO SERVICE VENDORS AND OTHER USERS OF THE AREA…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….114 8.6. IMPROVING GUIDE SERVICES AND EVENT PROGRAMMES………………………………………..114 9 BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….116 10 ANNEXES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………118 I. BUDGET II. LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAS SIGNED COOPERATION AGREEMENT III. COOPERATION AGREEMENT (IN CROATIAN) IV. PRICE LIST V. QUESTIONNAIRE VI. REPORTS (MINUTES) AND SIGNATURE LISTS FROM THE MEETINGS, PHOTOS VII. PUBLICATIONS (PDFS AND SCANNS) VIII. KORNATI NP MANAGEMENT PLAN (2014-2023) IX. MAP OF THE AREA __________________________________________________________________________________ 3 Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy for the Broader Kornati National Park Area __________________________________________________________________________________ 1 INTRODUCTION Driven by its exceptional natural beauty, tourism on the Kornati archipelago dates from the 1970s and is the chief economic activity underpinning the life of the small islander communities. As a result, however, of a dearth of dialogue and cooperation with key local stakeholders (property owners, units of local and regional self-government, tourist boards and agencies, manufacturers and purveyors of goods and services, the civil sector etc.), tourism is haphazard and uncoordinated, having on the one side public institutions that manage the Kornati archipelago and, on the other, property owners and users in protected areas whose existence is "threatened" by protection. This gulf between the administration and the local stakeholders is also reflected in the satisfaction of visitors and their perception of this jewel of the Mediterranean! Although founded as far back as 1980, the Kornati National Park Public Institution, which manages the part of the Kornati archipelago protected under the national park category, only recently introduced the principles of sustainable development in its management, gradually establishing a dialogue with the local community, with the aim of providing them support in ensuring their existence in the Kornati region and from the Kornati archipelago. During the process of drawing up the Management Plan, launched in 2009, a series of topical workshops have been staged to discuss the needs of the local residents, much of which has been implemented in the ten-year planning period encompassed with the Kornati National Park Management Plan (2014 – 2023). It was a significant, but still inadequate step forward in resolving the problems that have accumulated over an extended period and in establishing management sustainable in the long term, which requires continual cooperation with the interested stakeholders. The other part of the Kornati archipelago, the Žut-Sit Archipelago Important Landscape, is managed by the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Natural Values of Šibenik-Knin County, which is both a relatively young and insufficiently staffed to adequately – in close cooperation with local stakeholders – manage the region to the benefit of the entire community. Through our collaboration with the Dinaric Arc Parks project and a series of activities we have participated in, and in particular through providing information and education on establishing sustainable tourism, we gained ideas and encouragement for the further advancement of the dialogue and cooperation necessary to achieve the more effective management of this protected area. With the support of colleagues from the WWF, from Lonjsko Polje Nature Park and Medvednica Nature Park – this year's recipients of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (ECST), and of the many local stakeholders we decided to undertake preparations for the nomination of the wider Kornati National Park region for the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (ECST). By wider region we have in mind the remainder of the Kornati archipelago – the Žut-Sit Archipelago Important Landscape, the port of departure in the town of Murter and the settlement of Betina. The joint creation and implementation of the Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy, harmonised with the Kornati National Park Area Management Plan (2014 – 2023) and founded on continual cooperation and partnership with the local stakeholders – the best guardians of "their" protected area – will surely provide the community with economic, societal and social benefits, and ensure the long-term conservation of the natural, cultural and traditional values of the region that have seen it proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 ecological network. __________________________________________________________________________________ 4 Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy for the Broader Kornati National Park Area __________________________________________________________________________________ We are very thankful to all stakeholders that have recognised the importance of joint action and have joined the process of preparing the Strategy, on the implementation of which we will work together to ensure long-term coexistence