Exploring Tourist Preferences on the Visitor Management System: the Case Study of Plitvice Lakes National Park

A study reveals that Croatian visitors to Plitvice Lakes National Park prioritize infrastructure and services more than international tourists, while repeat visitors emphasize safety and stakeholder engagement. The research used an online survey based on the Park’s Management Plan, analyzing responses from 214 participants between May and July 2022 with statistical tests like Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon U and Kruskal-Wallis. Findings suggest that national tourists value service improvements, while frequent visitors expect higher safety standards and greater input in decision-making. Retail interventions were deemed less critical compared to other management aspects. This study underscores the importance of integrating visitor preferences into park management strategies for sustainable conservation.

Sergiacomi, C., Vuletić, D., Paletto, A., & Fagarazzi, C. (2022). Exploring Tourist Preferences on the Visitor Management System: the Case Study of Plitvice Lakes National Park. South-East European Forestry, 13(2), 67–77. https://doi.org/10.15177/seefor.22-06