Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/22.4.3232
Respondents' attitudes towards tourism in protected natural areas: the example of Lonjsko polje
Ivo GRGIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0003-3900-4925
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Magdalena ZRAKIĆ SUŠAC
orcid.org/0000-0002-0577-1109
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Mateja JEŽ ROGELJ
orcid.org/0000-0002-7259-8019
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Lea KUNŠTOVIĆ
; Hrastova 15, 10040 Zagreb, Croatia
Aleksandra PERČIN
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ornella MIKUŠ
orcid.org/0000-0001-8116-3159
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Tihana KOVAČIĆEK
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Lari HADELAN
orcid.org/0000-0002-8499-0771
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Protected areas have a primary role in preserving the biodiversity of a region and are often valorized as a resource in tourism. The paper is based on the results of an empirical study conducted on a sample of 160 respondents. The main research goal was to determine the opinions and attitudes of the respondents about the development of rural tourism and its impact on the conservation of biodiversity in the Lonjsko polje Nature Park (Park). The results show that 56.9% of respondents consider that pollution caused by human activity has the greatest impact on biodiversity loss, but also that informing visitors about responsible behavior is a way to preserve biodiversity in the Park. Respondents agree with the statement that rural tourism is "eco-friendly" and that a sustainable form of tourism contributes to nature conservation. It was found that age and level of education were not statistically significantly related to the respondents' perception of the impact of rural tourism on biodiversity in nature parks. Respondents are moderate in the view that tourism should not be carried out in nature parks (M = 2.85) or that rural tourism in the park pollutes the environment and disrupts the landscape (M = 2.61). With a high degree of agreement (M = 4.04), respondents believe that the Park has the potential to develop ecotourism.
Keywords
sustainable tourism; biodiversity; nature park; survey
Hrčak ID:
268208
URI
Publication date:
22.12.2021.
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