Project details:
Today's tourism demand is increasingly influenced by external factors, with climate change being one of the most important. Climate change is a burning global problem with far-reaching consequences for various sectors, including tourism. There is great heterogeneity in the assessments of the physical and socio-economic impacts of climate change, depending on the destination and methodology. Climate change particularly threatens the sustainability of nature-based tourism, especially in protected areas, which are often untouched ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots and are sensitive to extreme weather events, fires, droughts, habitat loss, and changes in species distribution. Tourism in protected natural areas represents an important segment of the global economy and is crucial for the preservation of natural resources. However, with the increase in climate change, these areas are increasingly exposed to threats that can significantly impact their sustainability and attractiveness to tourists. Therefore, it is important to investigate how climate change affects tourism in protected areas and to develop adaptation strategies that will ensure the sustainability of tourism activities. The objectives of this project are multidisciplinary and aimed at a deeper understanding of the interactions between climate change, tourism, and nature conservation. The first objective is to assess the current state of tourism in protected areas to identify key climate threats. Then, the vulnerability of these areas to climate change will be analyzed, with a special focus on extreme weather conditions, changes in species habitats, and tourism development. Identifying relevant vulnerability indicators will be crucial for monitoring and evaluating the impact of climate change. By developing tailored vulnerability and resilience indices, the research will contribute to more effective management of the impacts of climate change on tourism. The ultimate goal is to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of protected areas and to maximize the benefits of tourism for local communities and nature conservation.
Project Objectives:
- Assess the impact of climate change on nature-based tourism in three selected test areas (Plitvice Lakes National Park, Kopački Rit Nature Park, Vis Archipelago Geopark)
- Develop a vulnerability index and a resilience index for protected areas as a foundation for managing climate change adaptation strategies
Project leader:
Izidora Marković Vukadin, PhD
Team members:
- Izidora Marković Vukadin, PhD (Institute for Tourism)
- Mira Zovko, PhD (Institute for Tourism)
- Hrvoje Carić, PhD (Institute for Tourism)
- Ivo Beroš, PhD (Institute for Tourism)
- Hrvoje Mataković, PhD (Institute for Tourism)
- Damir Krešić, PhD (Institute for Tourism)
- Staša Borović, PhD (Croatian Geological Institute)
- Marco Pola, PhD (Croatian Geological Institute)
- Josip Terzić, PhD (Croatian Geological Institute)
- Kosta Urumović, PhD (Croatian Geological Institute)
- Tanja Likso, PhD (Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Croatia)
- Lidija Srnec, M.Sc. (Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Croatia)
- Ivana Havrle Kozarić, M.Sc. (Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Croatia)
- Ivana Herceg Bulić, PhD (Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb)
- Aljoša Duplić, PhD (Institute for Nature Protection)
- Karla Fabrio Čubrić, M.Sc. (Institute for Nature Protection)
- Tamara Kirin, PhD (Institute for Nature Protection)
- Ante Mandić, PhD (Faculty of Economics, University of Split)
- Luka Valožić, PhD (Institute for Tourism)
- Leona Matotek, Mag. Geogr. (Institute for Tourism)