Search

This research includes the hiking trails of Istria County as an element in the slow tourism supply. The official tourist supply of hiking trails managed by the Istrian Tourism Development Agency was analysed. The supply includes 84 trails with a total length of 859.4 kilometres, classified into six hiking regions. The objectives of the research were to determine the spatial layout and tourism supply of hiking trails as an element of slow tourism development in Istria County. Further objectives were to propose a more purposeful regionalization of existing trails as well as the distribution and definition of non-valorized trails. A complex method of field research of trails was used, including the methods of participant observation, autoethnography and mapping with the support of GIS. The hiking regions Rovinj and Poreč-Vrsar have the best tourism supply and opportunities for slow tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the geographical features and potential of memorial tourism development in the tourism region of Istria in Croatia. In the past century, Istria has had several political and socio-economic turning points, with far-reaching consequences for its overall development. For the most part, the historical turning points in the 20th century in Istria were marked by armed conflict, followed by individual and mass human casualties, terror, and the persecution of the population. The motive of travel in memorial tourism here is to visit the places where these tragic events occurred. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine the geographical distribution of potential sites in Istria suitable for the development of memorial tourism. An additional objective was to propose thematic routes of memorial tourism in the areas of Istrian towns and municipalities. A secondary aim of this research was to provide a geographical contribution to the scientific evaluation of memorial tourism in Croatian tourism regions, with proposals for measures in the planning of the development of this form of tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this work is field research as a complex method of the methodological system of tourism geography, a scientific discipline of human geography. Tourism as a geographical phenomenon is researched here as a complex dynamic system in constant flux and transformation. The complexity of tourism is to be found in its spatial, socio-economical, political, cultural, psychological, historical, administrative, legal, organisational and other components, which are all interconnected in geographical space, and thus compliment and oppose each other, thereby transforming the cultural landscape of a tourist region. This work will single out basic characteristics of fieldwork: complexity, all-inclusiveness, depth and the use of triangular procedures and methods. Triangular methods and procedures such methods of observation as individual interviews and focus groups, questionnaires, landscape mapping, photo and video recording as well participatory observation. Furthermore, special focus will be placed on the three separate stages of field research: the preparatory, executing and concluding phase. Student achievements at the undergraduate, graduate and post graduate level in the study of geography by applying practical field examinations will be suggested here: the aim of this is to increase competence in applied research and other projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 fortourism 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]