Unknown Krka: introductory conference

The new project of the Public Institute of Krka National Park, entitled: The Unknown Krka: hidden treasures of the upper and middle course of the Krka River was presented to the public at the introductory conference held on 16 October 2017.

The total value of the project is HRK 80,057,649.15, of which HRK 66,200,193.06 was cofinanced from the European Regional Development Fund through grants as part of the Operational programme Competitiveness and Cohesion (project code no. KK.06.1.2.01.0003).

“The project Unknown Krka brings together all the work that the Public Institute of Krka National Park does as a management entity. Nature conservation, sustainable development and infrastructure investments, visitor management, cooperation with the local community, and educational and presentation activities have all come together in this project, which is sure to positively impact the overall development of the entire region encompassing the upper and middle course of the Krka River. The idea of the project was to utilise the potential of the Krka National Park brand to attract visitors interested above all in nature, cultural and historical heritage and education. Through this project, we are offering a new and completely different experience of the Krka River,” stated Krešimir Šakić, MSc, director of the Public Institute of Krka National Park, and the project leader.

The objective of the project is to activate the unutilised tourism and economic potential of the northern sections of Krka National Park through the construction of infrastructure and capacities of key stakeholders, and through developing new educational products and service for visitors. The project will achieve a better quality spatial and temporal distribution of visitors, and overall social, economic and ecological wellbeing for the entire region.

Ivona Cvitan, head of the Service for Tourism, Promotions, Presentation and Hospitality of the Public Institute of Krka National Park spoke about the reasons for applying for the Unknown Krka project. She stated that the dynamic growth of visitors and the infrastructure pressures on Skradinski Buk led to a need to improve the spatial and temporal dispersion of visitors, and to offer attractive content in the upstream localities of the park. Dr. Drago Marguš, scientific expert at the Public Institute of Krka National Park, spoke of the impact of visitors on the environment, and the measures to conserve the natural heritage of Krka National Park, stressing the importance of directing visitors in order to reduce the negative impacts on the sensitive ecosystems within the park. He also stressed the educational component of the project Unknown Krka, which will primarily unfold through the renovated Krka Eco Campus at Puljani.

The project envisages a number of infrastructural works within the park boundaries, the design and introduction of new presentational and interpretational content, such as the construction and equipping of the visitor centre at the Krka Eco Campus at Puljani, the interpretational, educational and volunteer centre, equipping the Nature Interpretation Centre “Krka – spring of life” at Kistanje with graphic and multimedia interpretation collections, equipping walking trails, electrified boat transport and improving the system of managing content and visitors, which will include numerous educational activities, aimed at improving visitor safety, and raising awareness among the public and stakeholders in education, tourism and the media, on the natural wealth of the Krka River and all the processes associated with it.

Within this project, the conception of thematic products for visitors and new tourism content and their promotion aim to further valorise the tourism potential of the upper and middle course of the Krka River, thus offering visitors a unique and integral tourism experience.

Željana Šikić, director of the Šibenik-Knin County Tourist Board, a partner in this project, spoke about the impacts of the project on revalorising the content offered to visitors in the park, and on the local and national tourism offer. “Tourism and nature conservation are not and cannot be in divergent relations, and since our environment is a fundamental part of the what the tourism destination offers, tourism has a permanent interest in protecting nature. The common goal within the framework of this project is to ensure that visitors coming to this protected area have the opportunity to explore, learn about and enjoy the environment, its flora and fauna, and the associated cultural elements in that area,” she stressed.

„During the conference, an expert advisory board was established, and is comprised of associates and key project stakeholders. The board will be responsible for ongoing monitoring and internal evaluation of the project.“, istaknula je.

The board consists of: Šibenik-Knin County, Town of Knin, Šibenik-Knin County Tourist Board, Tourist Boards of Skradin, Drniš and Knin, Public Institution for the Management of Protected Areas and other Protected Natural Sites of Šibenik-Knin County – Priroda, the Public Institution of the Šibenik-Knin County Development Agency, and the Public Institute of Krka National Park. Access to the board is open, and other project stakeholders may join at a later date.