Title - Name
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Scope / Sector / Industry
National Park tourism management
Country / Region
Croatia
Why is it good practice?
Plitvice Lakes National Park is regarded as a fine example of national park tourism management, as its management combines the protection of the natural environment with the development of tourism. Through the implementation of strict regulations for the conservation of its natural resources, the use of environmentally friendly technologies and the raising of visitors’ awareness, it seeks to strike a balance between nature and human activity.
How is it applied?
Plitvice Lakes National Park was established in 1949 and is one of Croatia’s most important natural attractions. It is the oldest and largest national park in the country; in 1979 it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and forms part of the Natura 2000 network, owing to its unique natural beauty and biodiversity.
The park is situated in the mountainous region of Croatia, between the Mala Kapela mountain range to the west and north-west, and the Lička Plješivica mountain range to the south-east. Administratively, the park falls within two regions, Lika-Senj and Karlovac, with the majority of it situated in the former. Today, it covers an area of 300 km2 and is mainly covered by forest. The most attractive part of the park is its lakes, which cover just under 1% of its total area.
The park is open to the public all year round and offers a variety of activities. Activities available to visitors in the park include lake tours, hiking and boating. The park has seven lake tour routes and four hiking trails. All visitors are required to follow the instructions on the information boards, stay on the marked trails and leave no trace of their visit, such as litter.
In addition to the above activities, visitors are encouraged to cycle within the park (cycling is not permitted inside), on an organised and signposted network of cycle paths in the area. Skiing is also recommended at a ski resort situated 2.5 km from the park.
Due to the high number of visitors to the park and to enhance the visitor experience, recommendations for accommodation, dining and souvenir shops are featured on its official website. The park also offers the option of hosting social and business events on request.
Despite the increase in visitor numbers, Plitvice Lakes National Park is regarded as a model of good tourism management, as it takes specific measures to ensure the protection of its unique natural environment. Below are some of the key factors that make it a model:
Sustainable management of natural resources: The park enforces strict rules to ensure that its natural resources are not affected by human activity. These measures focus on the protection of water resources (lakes and waterfalls) and the preservation of the landscape’s natural features. The park restricts activity in sensitive areas, whilst allowing limited access for visitors via a network of paths and routes designed to minimise human impact on the ecosystem.
In particular, the management of water flow in the lakes and the preservation of the park’s geological features are important for preventing deterioration and preserving the natural landscape. Furthermore, infrastructure (such as bridges and footpaths) is designed to minimise its impact on the natural environment. A typical example is the use of electric boats and an electric train to facilitate visitors’ movement within the park; these are environmentally friendly as they run on electricity, thereby reducing air pollution and the impact on the park’s tranquillity.
Promoting environmental awareness: The park has developed educational programmes and awareness campaigns aimed at visitors and the local community. Visitors learn about the natural history of the area, ecological processes and the need to protect the environment. The park has educational centres, signposts and information leaflets that provide information about ecosystems, wildlife and the threats they face, as well as rules of conduct aimed at protecting the environment.
In addition, many organisations and local communities work in partnership with the park to develop educational programmes and events that promote sustainability and the respectful use of the environment. The park helps to raise awareness of the importance of nature in everyday life and the importance of sustainability.
Visitor Flow Control: The park implements strategies to reduce congestion in key areas. This is achieved by setting limited visiting hours and categorising areas into zones with different access rules.
The number of visitors is also limited by a ticketing system, which helps to ensure that the number of people visiting the park each day does not exceed the capacity of its physical infrastructure. Guided tours are also offered to ensure that visitors stay on designated paths, thereby preventing damage to the ecosystem.
Strategies for the protection of biodiversity: The park is home to an impressive variety of plant and animal species, many of which are rare or endangered. Tourism management incorporates strategies to protect this biodiversity. For example, the park has strict rules in place to protect species, limiting interaction with visitors and minimising human interference.
In addition, park staff constantly monitor the condition of ecosystems and species in order to respond promptly to any threats that may arise. Strengthening biodiversity research and cooperation with international conservation organisations are also key elements of this strategy.
Alternative sustainable tourism activities: To promote a gentle form of tourism, Plitvice Lakes National Park offers activities that are as environmentally friendly as possible. Tourism focuses on walking, birdwatching and nature photography, whilst activities such as boat trips on the lakes and small-boat excursions are limited to minimise the ecological impact. The park therefore offers visitors the chance to explore nature in a sustainable way, without disturbing ecosystems.
Cooperation with the local community: The park also plays an important role in the local economy and development. Through tourism, it provides jobs for local people, whilst encouraging the cultivation of local produce and the development of small businesses that cater for visitors (e.g. local shops, restaurants, accommodation). This cooperation helps to ensure that the economic benefits of tourism remain within the local community, whilst at the same time protecting the environment.
The park also works with local organisations to promote and support sustainable tourism, ensuring that tourism benefits the area without damaging its natural and cultural heritage.
Ongoing assessment and adaptation: The park’s management strategy is based on an ongoing assessment of the impacts of tourism and the environment. The use of monitoring technologies, such as satellite imagery and sensors to monitor water and air quality, enables park staff to identify potential threats in a timely manner and adapt their strategies.
In addition, the park works with environmental organisations and academic institutions to continuously improve its practices and incorporate new methods of protection and management, in line with the latest developments in the field of ecotourism.
Inclusion: The park is making significant efforts to ensure it is accessible to everyone. Recently, it took part in the “Nature for All in Sign Language” project, which focuses on ensuring accessible communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing people and on raising awareness of accessible tourism. In addition to creating relevant informational content and utilising QR code technology, the project ran workshops to train staff in communicating with deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
These practices make Plitvice Lakes National Park an important example of sustainable and responsible tourism management, which combines environmental protection with the strengthening of the local economy and the visitor experience.
Where is it applied?
Plitvice Lakes National Park is designed for anyone wishing to experience a large and extensive national park that offers visitors a variety of outdoor activities without harming biodiversity.
When did it apply?
Plitvice Lakes National Park was established in 1949.
Results
Plitvice Lakes National Park has won a number of prestigious awards for its management. For example, in 2024, it was included in the “Green Destinations Top 100 Stories”, a competition that showcases best practices from around the world in the tourism sector. In this competition, the park was recognised for its entry entitled “A Ticket that opens doors to the Lika Destination – a branding initiative for sustainable tourism development”. Furthermore, in 2023, it received its third Green Destinations award for sustainability.
Furthermore, in 1992 it became a member of the European Network of National Parks and Protected Areas (EUROPARC).
Other information
The official website of Plitvice Lakes National Park is: https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/