Plitvice Lakes National Park: An example of sustainability in Croatian tourism

Plitvice Lakes National Park has been striving to achieve a balance between people, nature and economic development for years. Although today there is a lot of talk about sustainable business, concrete measures that are implemented in practice are rarely mentioned. Sustainable development, which includes environmental protection, social progress and economic growth, represent a major challenge, especially in the context of the preservation of natural heritage under the protection of UNESCO.

Over its 75 years of existence, Plitvice Lakes National Park has gradually introduced sustainable practices, earning it a Green Destinations Silver Sustainability Award in 2023. This award is renewed every two years, which requires continuous work on sustainability as the only way to positively impact the world.

Under the leadership of director Tomislav Kovačević, Plitvice Lakes National Park has become an outstanding example of sustainable development in Croatian tourism. Kovačević played a key role in the implementation of numerous sustainable practices that improved the conservation of natural heritage and reduced the ecological footprint of the park. His contributions include initiatives such as the introduction of LED lighting, the procurement of electric vehicles and ships, and the development of a reservation system to control mass tourism.

Through these measures, the park not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions and waste, but also promotes the education of visitors about the importance of environmental protection. Under Kovačević's leadership, the Plitvice Lakes National Park achieves a balance between nature conservation and sustainable tourism, which was recognized and awarded with the Green Destinations Silver Sustainability Award.

The infrastructure of the Park, such as wooden paths and boat docks, is adapted to preserve the natural beauty. Already in 1976, the road that passed through the Park, through the lake zone, was closed, while the first two electric boats set sail on Lake Kozjak in 1977. These boats still sail, providing a retro attraction for visitors.

employees traveling from distant places within 60 km of the Park, bus transportation is organized, which reduces the number of cars in the Park and greenhouse gas emissions. The park also acquired through green processes electric vehicles for transporting small waste and luggage, as well as several electric and hybrid cars for various purposes.

The Park's conservation department continually holds educational workshops and programs for visitors to raise awareness about nature conservation. By offering packages that include several nights in the Park, tickets and access to other tourist attractions in the area, visitors are encouraged to stay longer.

Mass tourism represents an ecological challenge, which is why a system of booking a certain number of tickets per hour was introduced, as well as a pricing policy with different daily and seasonal prices in order to reduce crowding in the lake area. In addition, guest surveys are conducted to collect feedback and improve the visit experience.

In 2018, LED lighting was introduced, which consumes 50% less electricity and further reduces the impact on the environment. This lighting works at 40% intensity at night, which is more favorable for flora and fauna.

Waste reduction is also a priority for the Park, which sorts waste into categories such as paper, glass, plastic, metal, textile, electronic waste, rubber, bio-waste and bulky waste.With the introduction of biodegradable packaging in 2015, the process of gradually eliminating plastic from business began.

Since 2018, the Park has a ZelEn certificate that confirms that 100% of electricity is used from renewable sources. This certificate is renewed every year, confirming that the Park procures electricity from certified power plants with minimal impact on the environment.

The behavior of visitors is regulated by the Ordinance on the Protection and Preservation of the Plitvice Lakes National Park. The rules are clearly stated on the Park's official website, in brochures and on tickets. Although prohibitions such as damaging trees, littering, disturbing or feeding animals and swimming seem obvious, they are still being violated.

Plitvice Lakes National Park still has a long way to go, but it is slowly raising awareness among visitors and the local community about the importance of a sustainable approach that will help achieve a balance between people, nature and economic development.

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