engleski

From tourist eco-charge to sustainable development of the town of Hvar

The town of Hvar is a well-established tourism destination at the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea. However, extensive tourism growth, based mainly on the mass-tourism concept in the past, led to the substantial pressures on the natural resources, primarily space, water and sea. Currently, Hvar is on the development cross-roads: the community has to decide which kind of tourism they want to develop and to which extent. Moreover, a different economic matrix has to be supported, involving other, tourism-complementary economic activities. The research project started with the development of the tourist eco-charge since it was concluded that tourists represent the biggest pressure on the environment. It continues with the identification of other economic instruments that could be taken into account in development of the entrepreneurship zone as well as regarding other investments planned in medium-term. During the last two years, several environment awareness-raising activities were done in Hvar, addressing both tourists and local population. It has been amazing to follow the change of local population, from opposition, distrust and disbelief to the full support to the principles of sustainable development. Presently, the efforts have been made to facilitate public participation programme as to encourage the enforcement of tourist eco-charge as well as other incentives regarding the sustainable development of the area.

sustainable development; sustainable tourism; economic instruments; tourist eco-charge; sustainable communities

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