Acta turistica nova, Vol. 3 No. 2, 2009.
Original scientific paper
DR. SRĐAN MARKOVIĆ LEAVES US
Boris Vukonić
Abstract
The extremely sad news that Professor Srđan Marković, PhD, the doyen of tourism thought in Croatia, has left us forever sounded unreal. It was even sadder for being so unexpected. For me and for all those who knew Dr. Marković, this was unbelievable news that caught us completely unprepared. Although he had sporadic ailments, which was natural for his age, Dr Marković was always there, next to us, or with us, even after his active engagement in tourism had ended. His numerous works bear testimony to his ever presence. This is especially true of the books/textbooks Osnove turizma and Ekonomika turizma (The Basics of Tourism and The Economics of Tourism), both of which he wrote and published in co-authorship with his wife, Zora. All tourism scholars have constantly referred to Dr Marković’s works, especially the many students of tourism in Croatian secondary and higher education institutions, and this is still so, particularly in the states created following the dissolution of former Yugoslavia.
Srđan Markoviće was born in Zagreb in 1920. After graduating from the Classical Gymnasium in Zagreb, he enrolled in and graduated from the Faculty of Law at Zagreb University. Throughout his life, Dr Marković witnessed all the tragedy and symbolism of Croatian political life of the 20th century. Continuing the family tradition of political affiliation to the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), Dr Marković himself became an active member of this party. The beginning of the Second World War found him acting as President of the HSS Youth of Zagreb University. In such a role, he was undesirable for the authorities of the new Independent State of Croatia (NDH), so he was immediately arrested. However, at the end of the war and on the arrival of the communist government, he found himself in prison again due to being a former HSS activist. After his release, he was deployed as restaurant manager on Mount Učka, far from the events unrolling in the new state. Nevertheless, his interest in and knowledge of tourism helped him continue his work in Opatija in a tourism society, where he was later joined by Dragutin Alfier and Vojko Pekić, both of whom later became renowned experts in tourism.
In 1959, the Chamber of the Hospitality and Catering Industry of Croatia, noticing the gradual growth of tourism and the clear advantage that Croatia had for such growth in terms of resources, decided to establish the Tourism Investment Bureau and appointed Dr. Marković as its head. This was the beginning of Dr. Marković’s very successful and, in some parts, rich life story, a story connected with tourism, but also with the institution that he was leading. Dr Marković took every possible opportunity to develop and broaden his knowledge of tourism, often through journeys and short stays in tourism institutions in Switzerland, France, England and Austria. The Bureau soon outgrew its primary task – to develop investment studies and analyses for tourism – and, in 1964, changed its name to Zavod za ekonomiku turizma (Institute for Tourism Economics). However, Dr Marković and his associates soon became aware that tourism research does not exhaust itself solely in the field of economics, and thus he also extended his activities to other areas that were either directly or indirectly connected with tourism, such as environmental protection, spatial planning and sociology. This led to yet another change in the name of the Institute in 1980 when it took on the name Zavod za istraživanje turizma (Institute for Tourism Research). Dr Makrović remained the very heart of this institution, the alpha and the omega of all the events in and around the Institute, but also in spreading knowledge on tourism and primarily on the economics of tourism, first on the territory of the former state, and later in Croatia.
In 1962, Dr Mijo Mirković initiated the first postgraduate study of tourism in the former state, and Dr Srđan Marković was invited to develop the courses and the study regime. After heated discussions on Dr Marković’s proposals relating to the content of the courses, Dr Marković’s proposal won the day, and the postgraduate study of the Economics of Tourism was established at the Faculty of Economics of Zagreb University. Naturally, Dr Marković himself became lecturer in the basic discipline of the Economics of Tourism.
Dr Marković remained faithful to Tourism Economics almost until the end of his life. In 1972, with his wife Zora as co-author, he published two books on tourism: Osnove turizma (The Basics of Tourism) and Ekonomika turizma (The Economics of Tourism). The latter book still remains the best work and textbook on this topic, from which generations of tourism workers and experts have drawn their knowledge. Former Yugoslavia opened up to the western world, enabling its citizens to visit other countries and parts of the world, and also encouraging foreign tourists and tourism experts to come to the country. Such developments made it possible for Dr Marković and his associates to connect with foreign tourism institutions, and personally opened up for him the opportunity to participate in numerous international professional conferences. His active involvement in these events meant that the world could recognise Dr Marković as a leading expert in tourism. It was an opportunity which steered his entire later professional engagement throughout the world.
He was also a very active lecturer. He lectured in tourism studies at faculties of economics in Dubrovnik, Split and Zagreb, and also, from time to time, as a visiting lecturer at other higher education institutions of the former state and abroad. He was member of AIEST, the International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism, and soon became one of its vice-presidents, shoulder to shoulder with world renowned tourism experts, such as Walter Hunziker, Kurt Krapf, Pierre Defert, Albert Koch, Claude Kaspar, A. Haulot, S. Medlik and many others. From time to time he was also engaged by the World Tourism Organisation (then UIOT) as a tourism expert, and in this position travelled between continents to visit different countries.
Dr Marković continued his work as lecturer, and at the same time dealt with the reorganisation of the activities of the Institute which he was still heading. The growing interest in tourism and its consequences for the world and for Croatia led to increasing demands on the Bureau. A need subsequently arose to change its name. In 1986, the Bureau became the Institute for Tourism. The Institute was additionally extended not only in terms of types of activities, but also with new staff. It employed some new young tourism experts who later developed into leading tourism researchers in Croatia.
In 1990, Dr Srđan Marković ceased his active work in tourism; he retired, but still remained active in another of his favourite areas, in the activities of the Croatian Peasant Party. Although he was advancing in years, and was slowly affected by illness, Dr Marković did not give up. He was very active in creating a new HSS, and acted “behind the scenes” as editor of the party’s newsletter.
The last years of his life were spent away from tourism, at least as an active participant. Nevertheless, Dr Marković continued to monitor events in tourism, and even became one of the potential candidates for the position of Minister of Tourism in the newly established state of Croatia. Unfortunately, his general physical condition did not allow him to take on this task, and now, in hindsight, we can assuredly say that this was unfortunate for Croatian tourism and for its development.
Dr Srđan Marković died at home in June 2009, on one hand leaving emptiness and great sorrow in the heart of all of us who knew him or worked with him, but also leaving behind a rich and successful opus. And perhaps even more importantly, he built into a large number of former students and associates many understandings on tourism, and also the love of tourism and of our country, Croatia.
Prof. Boris Vukonić, PhD
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
61221
URI
Publication date:
25.11.2009.
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