The first European inter-parliamentary conference on sustainable tourism was organized in Zagreb and on the northern Adriatic island of Losinj on September 10-13 by the Croatian parliament. The conference focused on the role of tourism in the development of national economies, the need to develop the concept of sustainable tourism, and the promotion of a responsible use of the cultural heritage and environmental protection as an integral part of that concept.

1. United Nations Development Programme
Sustainable Tourism: Examples from a
decade of UNDP development work in
Croatia
EUROPEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE
Zagreb, September 11, 2014

2. • COAST project
• GACKA project
• PARCS project
• Via Dinarica initiative
... but it is much beyond the projects, it
all counts!

3. Common: integrated development
approach based on natural, cultural,
economic, social resources and
heriatage
... Integrated means opportunities and
challenges at the same time!

4. COAST
In partnership with the 4 Dalmatian
counties and the Ministry of the
Environment and Nature
Protection, we supported the creation of
97 “green businesses” with a total
value of EUR 20 million

5. Green Business Support Programme: 97 beneficiaries – 67 agriculture, 21
tourism ...

6. Family Farm Frano Milina – Bire, Korčula: First organic vineyard with autochthonous
varieties of Grk and Plavac Mali, upgrading existing tourist offer on family farm

7. Mrša family farm: Organic husbandry of autochthonous Buša cattle as base for
premium price products

8. 4.4 kilometers of scenic coastal trail along the St. Anthony’s Channel in Šibenik

9. With 60.000 EUR UNDP helped the county to prepare design and blueprints for
1.4 million EUR IPA to complete construction

10. The trail runs across a former closed military zone

12. Vis Adventure craft: Construction of traditional fishing boat Falkuša, eco-touristic
offer based on Falkuša – big game fishing, Rota Palagruzona...

13. Ecomuseum Komiža : TERRA MARIQUE concept supported by UNDP

15. Green businesses in rural Dalmatia
• Integrated approach combining:
– Job creation, sustainable livelihoods
– Environmental protection, agri-environment
– Cultivation of local traditions, landscapes
• 97 “green businesses” in four Dalmatian counties
– Organic wine and olive production
– Shellfish farming
– Cultivation of autochthonous sorts and breeds
– Agro- and nature tourism
• Diverse financial instruments (“green
lending”), grants and mentoring (technical assistance)
• EUR 6.2 million of GEF grant invested over seven
years with large multiplier effect

16. Local development
In Zadar County alone, we provided certified
training to 445 people in fields like
beekeeping, goat and sheep
breeding, cheese making, and
vegetable and fruit growing to help
family farmers compete on the EU market

17. Zadar County Farmers’ Market sells only genuine local produce

18. Certified training for beekeepers in Zadar County

19. GACKA Valley: integrated – “all in
one” approach
Combined different funds, sectors and partners:
• Tourism infrastructure: bicycle trails, rent-a-bike,
rent-a-rod, brown signalisation, brochures,
brand development
• Human resources development: trainings for
local caterers; certification of guides
• Social infrastructure: elderly care home in
Vrhovine, outdoor fitness facilities in Otočac
• Environment: “carstic fish & crayfish centre”
visitors’ centre, awareness raising on water
sources, crayfish breeding

21. Otočac: carstic fish & crayfish centre

22. Springs at the origin of the Gacka River

23. PARCS project “to go”
2014 - 2017:
• Component 1: increase efficiency of
management, both institutional and financial
• Component 2: increase financial efficiency of
the parks:
– Improved quality of offer to visitors
– Involvement of local communities and
produce
– Better connectivity of all parks into one but
diverse quality “package of nature” from
Croatia!

24. PARCS: $5 million GEF grant + co-fin total $23 million

25. Risnjak – renewable energy use

26. Via Dinarica
Connecting naturally
Connect, harmonise offer and standards, brand, develop rural
communities – people and nature together.

27. http://viadinarica.com/

28. Sustainable tourism is much more
then just a niche in tourism market.
• Develops not only the sector but also local people and
assets in a sustainable way
• 8-10.000 jobs potential in rural Dalmatia
• Boosts (eco-)agriculture, fishing, nature protection
• Keeps rural areas alive
• Keeps the heritage
• Smaller in scale, of a higher value
• Income remains locally
• Recognisable, genuine, unique brand
• Smart specialisation for Croatia!?

29. Thank you!
sandra.vlasic@undp.org