ICOA1657: MODELS OF HERITAGE TOURISM SUSTAINABLE PLANNING: THE CASE OF THE ISLAND OF MLJET

Title: ICOA1657: MODELS OF HERITAGE TOURISM SUSTAINABLE PLANNING: THE CASE OF THE ISLAND OF MLJET

Author: Ana Mrda, Hrvoje Caric, Bojana Bojanic Obad Scitaroci

Year: 2017

Type of Resource: Research paper

Copyright: © 2017 by the authors. Published in conference proceedings; check licensing or contact authors.

Short Description:
This paper explores the dynamic relationship between cultural and natural heritage and tourism, advocating for a sustainable approach to tourism planning in cultural landscapes. Grounded in theoretical models of heritage tourism sustainability, the study highlights how well-planned heritage tourism enhances destination attractiveness and recognition. From a spatial-planning perspective, a destination’s competitiveness depends on the cultural experience of unique spatial environments and the regional quality of its landscape. The research emphasizes the importance of balancing global tourism standards with the preservation of a destination’s cultural identity. This balance is achieved through two key components: the authenticity of place, including its cultural and socioeconomic characteristics, and a viable tourism model that promotes sustainable cultural products.

A case study on the Croatian island of Mljet—home to the Adriatic’s oldest national park—illustrates this approach, showcasing how the island’s rich historical and cultural legacy, spanning from the Stone Age to modern times, can be leveraged for sustainable tourism. Using a stakeholder-driven visual perception questionnaire, the study confirms that sustainable heritage tourism planning must foster tourism development without compromising the spatial and socioeconomic fabric of the area. It also underscores the need for visitor capacity regulation to maintain both the local community’s well-being and the quality of the visitor experience.

Keywords: Heritage tourism, sustainable planning, cultural landscapes, destination competitiveness, Mljet, Croatia.

External Link: https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/1953/1/33._ICOA_1657_Mrda_SM.pdf