Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.21861/HGG.2012.74.02.06
Stagnation of a Tourist Destination: the Example of the City of Pula
Nikola Vojnović
orcid.org/0000-0002-9288-3810
; Sveučilište Jurja Dobrile u Puli
Abstract
This paper considers the stagnation of a tourist destination taking the example of Pula, Istria’s largest urban economic centre. The paper aims to explore the causes of stagnation as one of the stages within the life cycle of a tourist destination and suggest measures for revitalization of tourism and the attraction basis that the tourism development has been based upon. The most intensive tourism development had been recorded from 1981 to 1990, and was interrupted by the Homeland War and post-war reconstruction. Compared to the pre-war period, the number of beds in the city decreased by 14% from 2001 to 2010, the number of tourists decreased by 18% and there were 42% less overnight stays. Pula is not a typical example of a destination going through a stagnation stage, as its stagnation had not been caused by surpassing the capacity of the attraction basis or accommodation facilities. The most important causes of stagnation have been the decrease in the number of tourists from states created after the dissolution of Yugoslavia, development of neighbouring destinations, neglect of its real attraction basis, decrease in quality and the shutting down of accommodation facilities. Measures for tourism revitalization would include revalorization of the existing segment of the attraction basis, which would include stronger development of cultural tourism products, tourism valorisation of military facilities and former military terrains, enabling Pula to gain more affirmation as a tourist destination.
Keywords
stagnation of a tourist destination; tourist destination; City of Pula
Hrčak ID:
99631
URI
Publication date:
1.4.2013.
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