Opening of a new viewpoint at Plitvice Lakes National Park and presentation of a joint ticket to Lika of the destination
In the Public Institution "Plitvice Lakes National Park" on 18 July 2018, the newly-built panoramic viewpoint was inaugurated at the entrance of the 1st National Park. Director of the Plitvice Lakes National Park Tomislav Kovačević pointed out in a welcoming address that the new viewpoint will relieve the existing viewpoint and allow a large number of visitors to enjoy one of the most beautiful views in the world - view of the Great Waterfall. Kovačević emphasized that the viewpoint was completely built by the National Park employees specializing in the maintenance and construction of trails and bridges within the Park, which is exceptionally proud. Opening a lookout, director Kovačević also presented a joint ticket of Lika destination, part of a unique project for sustainable tourism development and branding in Croatia and besides visiting the Plitvice Lakes National Park, visitors can also visit other protected areas of nature and sights within Lika of destination - Paklenica National Park, Northern Velebit National Park, Velebit Nature Park (Cave Zavratnica and Cerovačke Cave), The Grabovača Cave Park and Barac's Caves, the Croatian Center for Indigenous Karst Water and Crabs and the Memorial Center of Nikola Tesla. The joint ticket project is implemented in accordance with the principles of sustainable development managed by the National Park Plitvice Lakes continuously strengthening cooperation with the local community and stakeholders outside the National Park area. The joint ticket is on sale on 1 July 2018 at the points of sale of Plitvice Lakes National Park (Entrance 1, Entrance 2 and Flora), and vouchers for visiting protected areas of nature and sights can be used by visitors by October 31, 2018. The ticket is available at a price of 300 kn for adults and 200 kn for children (7-18 yrs). The opening ceremony of the gazebo was attended by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Energy, Tomislav Ćorić, Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli and President of the County Assembly of Lika-Senj County Nada Marjanović. Minister Ćorić congratulated the director and employees on the construction of the gazebo and expressed his satisfaction with the integrated ticket project. "Integrating destinations is a must in all of our regions, and when we talk about Lika, I'm sure that such an approach will have a positive effect both for Plitvice Lakes and for the entire Lika destination. The viewpoint construction project is a valued step and I hope that the National Park will continue to invest in infrastructure facilities, especially in terms of reconstruction of existing and new facilities, which will primarily provide visitor safety but also to meet the highest standards of nature protection because it is our largest and most visited national park and nature protection is something we have to insist on "- emphasized Ćorić. While welcoming the initiative of the National Park Investment in Infrastructure, Minister Cappelli emphasized: "Plitvice Lakes are well represented by a valorized phenomenon that is devouring the whole world, which best shows a continuous increase in the number of visitors, especially Japanese visitors, whose number this year grew by more than 40%. Also, it is important to note that 10% of the total number of tourists visiting the Republic of Croatia visit the Plitvice Lakes National Park. I am pleased that the National Park and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Energy are collaborating on planning related to infrastructure renewal, especially hotels and other accommodation facilities, as it is known that guests staying in four or five star hotels stay in Croatia for a month longer than guests staying in lower quality hotels“. Nada Marjanovic, president of the County Assembly of Lika-Senj County, was not pleased with the investments in the National Park and the promotion of Lika destination. "I am proud and happy to have the opportunity to attend the opening of this gazebo in the name of Lika-Senj County, which represents the look of a new world of Lika destination. I congratulate Director Kovačević for recognizing that Plitvice Lakes are the bearer of the economic and tourist development of Lika-Senj County and I support efforts to make Lika a great destination through joint projects, such as the National Park, " said Marjanović.
