The effect of tourism seasonality on protected areas

Purpose – This paper researches and analyzes the seasonality of tourist demand for visiting protected areas in relation to ecological, economical, technological and socio-cultural sustainability. It focuses on protected areas which has a special type of tourism, especially category II – national parks. Design – After years of research it is possible to know whether the seasonality level has increased or decreased. Statistical research of the seasonality level in Croatian national parks, especially Plitvice Lakes and Krka, has shown that seasonality of tourist demand overlaps with tourist interest to visit the natural phenomenon or highly protected areas. Methodology/Approach – Field research and interviews with the local inhabitants contribute to better understanding human needs and better understanding their existence in the protected areas. One of the components of the paper is the interdependency or the effect which seasonality has on the natural and cultural goods in protected areas, how and at what level they are being used. Findings – The management model of protected areas must be directed towards the development and monitoring mechanisms to alleviate the negative effects of seasonality on protected areas. The development of appropriate forms of tourism activities that reduce the negative impact on the protected area imposes itself as a practical necessity. The stabilization of visits can be influenced by pre-defined rules of conduct, and partly affected by quality spatial distribution of visitors, at various locations within the site Originality – Modern management tools must be used in order to establish a fair and balanced relationship between using and conserving in the world, which is reflected in the overall preservation of human values, as being indivisible from their natural environment.