As part of the project “BIHEVTUR – Behavioural Sciences in the Service of Tourism Management for Sustainable Development”, two focus groups were held in April on the topic “Problematic Tourist Behaviours in Croatian Destinations”. The focus groups included stakeholders from four cities – Dubrovnik, Split, Šibenik, and Zadar. Participants included directors of local tourist boards and representatives of municipal services from city administrations. The aim of the focus groups was to identify the most prevalent issues in tourist behaviour and shed light on their possible causes from the perspective of those who deal with such behaviours on a daily basis.
The main objectives were to:
- Identify key problematic tourist behaviours that threaten the sustainability of local communities and the quality of life of residents;
- Explore the causes of such behaviours through the lens of the COM-B model, with a focus on motivation, capability, and opportunity to engage in sustainable practices;
- Map existing strategies aimed at encouraging behavioural change among tourists visiting Croatian destinations;
- Analyse modes of communication between stakeholders regarding tourism-related problems and possibilities for improving collaboration;
- Identify positive tourist behaviours that contribute to the local community and the sustainable development of the destination.
Although the destinations differed in terms of the types and intensity of the problems they face, the most commonly highlighted issues included: inappropriate clothing and the violation of cultural dignity in public spaces; improper parking of campervans and illegal camping; damage to cultural heritage due to inappropriate use; noise and disturbance in public areas and historic city centres; consumption of alcohol in public places; and public urination.