News
20.11.2024.
Plitvice Lakes National Park has actively engaged in the scientific project "Effectiveness of measures to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change in tourism - COMMITMENT" The collaboration was formalized through the signing of a scientific and professional cooperation agreement with the Institute, making the park the fourth pilot destination in the research.
In addition to Plitvice Lakes, the project includes the City of Krk, the Municipality of Pakoštane, and Sveti Martin na Muri, covering three distinct types of areas: coastal, continental, and mountainous (protected) regions.
The project is funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) under the Ministry of Science and Education. Experts from the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ), the Faculty of Science (PMF) at the University of Zagreb, and the University of Split are also involved in its implementation.
Climate change and tourism share a complex and multidimensional relationship, with direct and indirect impacts on the tourism sector. The COMMITMENT project employs a mixed research approach aimed at examining the effects of climate change on tourism and assessing the resilience of tourist destinations. It will analyze the interplay between climate change, hazards, vulnerabilities, and the adaptation and mitigation measures implemented at the level of tourist destinations and tourism enterprises.
Objectives of the COMMITMENT Project:
- Measure and document the specific impacts of climate change on selected destinations.
- Identify key hazards and vulnerabilities in each destination.
- Analyze the adaptive capacities and resilience measures of destinations.
- Evaluate existing adaptation and mitigation measures and their effectiveness.
This project represents a step forward in enhancing the resilience of Croatian tourist destinations to climate change and fostering the development of sustainable adaptation practices.
The project has also been introduced to the broader public through an informational article on the Plitvice Lakes National Park website. For more details, visit: https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/sporazum-o-znanstveno-istrazivackoj-i-strucnoj-suradnji-na-projektu-commitment/.
29.10.2024.
First Meeting of the Coordination Unit of the Municipality of Pakoštane was held.
The Municipality of Pakoštane, the Pakoštane Tourist Board, and the Public Institution Vransko Lake have actively engaged in the implementation of the scientific project by the Institute for Tourism titled "Effectiveness of measures to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change in tourism - COMMITMENT," through the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Institute and the Tourist Board.
The project is financed from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO) funds, through the Ministry of Science and Education. Experts from the State Hydrometeorological Institute (DHMZ), the Faculty of Science (PMF) in Zagreb, and the University of Split are also involved in the project.
Climate change and tourism have a complex and multidimensional relationship, with direct and indirect effects on the tourism sector. The COMMITMENT project employs a mixed research approach with the primary goal of examining the impacts of climate change on tourism and assessing the resilience levels of tourist destinations. The project will analyze the connections between climate change, hazards, vulnerabilities, and the adaptation and mitigation measures implemented at the level of tourist destinations and tourism enterprises.
Research is being conducted in four pilot destinations with different geographical, climatological, and tourism characteristics:
- Continental destination: Sveti Martin na Muri
- Coastal destinations: City of Krk and Municipality of Pakoštane
- Mountain destination: Plitvice Lakes National Park
The Municipality of Pakoštane was selected due to its status as one of the most developed coastal tourist destinations in Croatia, which also encompasses the Vransko Lake Nature Park. Vransko Lake is the largest lake in the Republic of Croatia and is, in fact, a karst field filled with water (a rare example of a cryptodepression). The tourist infrastructure and offerings, as well as the rich biodiversity of Vransko Lake, are exposed to climatic (and other environmental) risks (e.g., rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and salinity), making it crucial to identify the climatic hazards facing this area.
Objectives of the COMMITMENT Project:
- Measure and document the specific impacts of climate change on selected destinations.
- Identify key hazards and vulnerabilities in each destination.
- Analyze the capacities of destinations for adaptation and resilience measures.
- Assess existing adaptation and mitigation measures and their effectiveness.
This project represents a step towards increasing the resilience of Croatian tourist destinations to climate change and the development of sustainable adaptation practices.
24.10.2024.
Dr. Izidora Marković Vukadin gave an interview to Poslovni dnevnik about climate change, in which she highlighted the COMMITMENT project and emphasized the importance of adapting to climate change. She stressed the need to raise awareness among hoteliers and service providers, as well as the importance of investing in sustainable infrastructure and energy-efficient facilities.
You can read the full interview HERE.
15.10.2024.
Nora Mustać presented the NaTour4CChange project at 3rd Steering Committee Meeting "Dialogue for Tourism Project" organized by the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism in Poreč on October 15, 2024.
The NaTour4CChange project was presented to the members of other Interreg projects, local and state leaders, as well as other stakeholders in tourism, as part of the work session „Joining efforts in innovation, circular economy, climate change, green & smart tourism and tourism industry of thematic projects of Interreg Euro-MED and others“. The content and main outcomes of the project, project partners, and deliverables so far were presented.
15.10.2024.
The Institute for Tourism (IZTZG) presented its activities in the field of tourism and climate change at the Workshop organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), held in Zagreb on October 14-15, 2024. The international, EU, and national frameworks within which the Institute operates, as well as its project activities and scientific work, were presented.
The projects NaTour4CChange and COMMITMENT were detailed, focusing on assessing vulnerability and climate risks of natural tourist areas in the Mediterranean and Croatia, as well as implementing nature-based solutions (NbS). Additionally, the project TSSA was presented, which is conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Science and Education, and aims, among other things, at calculating CO2eq emissions and managing greenhouse gas emissions in the tourism sector.
The workshop provided an opportunity for knowledge exchange and strengthening cooperation with key partners in the fields of health, science, and environmental protection.
10.10.2024.
On October 10, 2024, the project of the Institute for Tourism gained additional visibility through the signing of an agreement in Sveti Martin na Muri, where the research goals regarding the impact of climate change on tourism were presented to the public. Through an article on the eMeđimurje portal, the project was brought closer to the wider regional audience.
Link: https://emedjimurje.net.hr/vijesti/drustvo/2999793/sveti-martin-na-muri-potpisan-sporazum-o-znanstveno-istrazivackoj-i-strucnoj-suradnji
09.10.2024.
The Municipality of Sveti Martin na Muri and the Tourist Board have actively joined the scientific project of the Institute for Tourism titled "Effectiveness of measures to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change in tourism - COMMITMENT" by signing a cooperation agreement between the Institute and the Tourist Board.
The project is financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO) by the Ministry of Science and Education. Experts from the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ), the Faculty of Science (PMF) in Zagreb, and the University of Split are also involved in the project.
Climate change and tourism have a complex and multidimensional relationship, with both direct and indirect effects on the tourism sector. The COMMITMENT project employs a mixed research approach with the primary goal of studying the impact of climate change on tourism and assessing the resilience of tourist destinations. The project will analyze the links between climate change, hazards, vulnerabilities, and the adaptation and mitigation measures implemented at the level of tourist destinations and tourism enterprises.
Research will be conducted in four pilot destinations with different geographic, climatic, and tourism characteristics:
- Continental destination: Sveti Martin na Muri
- Coastal destinations: City of Krk and Municipality of Pakoštane
- Mountain destination: Plitvice Lakes National Park
Sveti Martin na Muri was chosen as one of the most developed continental tourist destinations in Croatia. It is particularly exposed to flood risks due to the Mura River, whose water levels are increasingly rising due to extreme rainfall, representing a key climate-related hazard in this area. Additionally, the increasing rise in temperatures and public health challenges, such as mosquito invasions, are also serious issues faced by the destination.
The objectives of the COMMITMENT project are to:
- Measure and document the concrete impacts of climate change on selected destinations.
- Identify key hazards and vulnerabilities in each destination.
- Analyze the capacity of destinations for adaptation and resilience measures.
- Assess the effectiveness of existing adaptation and mitigation measures.
This project represents a step toward increasing the resilience of Croatian tourist destinations to climate change and developing sustainable adaptation practices.
01.10.2024.
On October 1, 2024, the project was presented to the public through an informative article in Novi List, achieving visibility for the initiative while encouraging stakeholders to collaborate.
Link: https://www.novilist.hr/rijeka-regija/otoci/grad-krk-se-prikljucio-vaznom-projektu-instituta-za-turizam-hvataju-se-u-kostac-s-klimatskim-promjenama/
06.09.2024.
At the 2nd Scientific-Professional Conference with International Participation 'Green Touches of Medvednica' (September 5, 2024), a research paper based on the results of the COMMITMENT project was presented. In the section *Climate Change as a Serious Threat to Biodiversity Conservation*, Izidora Marković Vukadin, Staša Borović, and Hrvoje Mataković participated with the paper titled *The Diversity of Climate Change Impacts on Tourism in Protected Areas: Examples from Croatia*. The conference proceedings book is available at the following link: https://www.pp-medvednica.hr/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240830_PP-MED_02-KS_WEB_spread.pdf .
17.08.2024.
An extensive interview with project leader Dr. Izidora Marković Vukadin was published in *Novi list*, focusing on the changes that climate change brings to tourism and potential directions for action. The interview also presented the scientific project COMMITMENT, with an emphasis on the case study of the city of Krk. The interview is available at the following link: https://www.novilist.hr/.../kako-klimatske-promjene.../
19.07.2024.
In the scientific book published by Emerald Publishing, titled Tourism in a VUCA World: Managing the Future of Tourism, two chapters authored by project collaborators as part of the research conducted within the project have been published.
Vukadin, I. M., Islam, N. U., Baus, D., & Krešić, D. (2024). Capacities of Adaptation and Mitigation Measures in Tourism to Answer Challenges of the Climate Crisis. In Tourism in a VUCA World: Managing the Future of Tourism (pp. 43-63). Emerald Publishing Limited.
Zovko, M., & Zovko, D. (2024). The New Realities of the Tourism Industry in the Era of Global Climate Changes. In Tourism in a VUCA World: Managing the Future of Tourism (pp. 27-42).
09.05.2024.
Project leader Dr. Izidora Marković Vukadin gave a guest lecture at the Faculty of Economics, University of Split, on May 9, 2024. She delivered a presentation on the topic: 'The Impacts of Tourism on the Environment and the Relationship between Climate Change and Tourism.' As part of the presentation, she briefly introduced the COMMITMENT project, emphasizing the expected outcomes.
24.04.2024.
Project associate Dr. Mira Zovko participated in the workshop 'Strengthening Tourism Resilience to Climate Change,' organized by the Croatian Tourist Board (HTZ) and the Ministry of Tourism and Sport (MINST) in Ilok on April 24, 2024, in front of stakeholders from the tourism sector. She gave a presentation on 'The Interrelationship between Climate and Tourism.' As part of the presentation, she also highlighted the role of the COMMITMENT project in society’s responses to climate change and its impacts. The full workshop can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxcOCbcvbtk .
16.04.2024.
The second working meeting of the project team was held with the aim of defining a detailed work plan, as well as establishing the research framework and tasks for researchers during 2024.
17.01.2024.
On January 17, 2024 the project COMMITMENT , as a part of scientific projects financed as part of NPOO (NextGeneration fund), started. The topic of the project is "Effectiveness of measures to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change in tourism." The aim of the research is to structure the links between three key variables (impact, hazard and resilience), and to analyze appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures planned or implemented at the destination level or among tourism entrepreneurs in the destination. The research will be conducted in three destinations: a coastal destination (Krk City), a protected nature destination (Plitvička jezera) and a continental destination (St. Martin na Muri).