Public Institute of Krka National Park presents the conclusions of the Visitor Management Study for Krka National Park

On Friday, 22 November 2019, the presentation of conclusions of the Visitor Management Study for Krka National Park was held at the Juraj Šižgorić Library in Šibenik.

The Study was drafted as part of the project “Unknown Krka: hidden treasures of the upper and middle course of the Krka River”, which was cofinanced by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund. Partners in the study were Grgurević i partneri d.o.o. for planning, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Institute for Tourism, ADIPA – Natural diversity research and conservation society and the Public Institute of Krka National Park.

The related document Evaluation of the current situation of the management system of Krka National Park: analysis of reception capacities was drafted prior to starting the Study. The general aim of the Evaluation and the Study was to develop a management framework and set appropriate goals, activities and effectiveness indicators that will improve visitor management and visitor infrastructure in Krka National Park, in accordance with the protection of natural and other values.

The project was presented as being integrally planned to include not only the area within the boundaries of Krka National Park, but also the surrounding areas, to ensure they are connected through the vision of responsible visitation and visitor infrastructure of Krka National Park.

Drafting the Study included reviewing the objectives from the 2011 Management Plan, the guidelines for drafting a new management plan, and other planning documents, projects, research and monitoring conducted to date, in addition to the proposed framework for visitor management in Krka National Park. The Study also contains a draft Action Plan for visitor management in Krka National Park for the period 2019 – 2031, which was based on the results of six workshops and many consultations held with local stakeholders during the development of the Study.

Since the fundamental objective of the Action Plan for visitor management in Krka National Park for the period 2019 – 2031 is to align visitation with the protection of the values of Krka National Park, the objectives for visitor management were set for this period, and activities were designed to achieve those objectives, and indicators were defined to monitor plan implementation and management effectiveness. The Action Plan for visitor management in Krka National Park for the period 2019 – 2031 was drafted in accordance with the principles of adaptable and participative management and planning, which implies that stakeholders are included in different ways and at different levels of the management cycle for Krka National Park.