Acta turistica, Vol. 29 No. 1, 2017.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.22598/at/2017.29.1.33
DISTORTED LIFE CYCLE ON POST-SOCIALIST ADRIATIC ISLANDS: USING THE EXAMPLE OF MLJET, CROATIA
Ivan Šulc
orcid.org/0000-0002-3810-7220
; Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Department of Geography, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
This paper investigates the life cycle of Mljet Island in Croatia according to a modified Butler’s (1980) model using the criteria of Lundtorp and Wanhill (2001) applied to overnight stays. Since it represents an example of a war-distorted life cycle, the development of tourism on Mljet was investigated in two life cycles separated by the Croatian War of Independence: (1) the life cycle in the socialist period (1946 – 1991); and (2) the life cycle after the Croatian War of Independence (1993 – today). Research results suggest that without appropriate tourism management and product improvement, the post-war recovery of tourism would not automatically reach the previous level of visitation and that the threat of decline could even reappear in a few years. Although a part of the island is protected as a national park, its life cycle has the usual course and characteristics as other coastal destinations.
Keywords
tourism area life cycle; post-socialist tourism development; Mljet; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
184231
URI
Publication date:
1.6.2017.
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