Krka Welcomes Over Half a Million Visitors, Domestic Guests Most Numerous
Krka National Park records excellent attendance, while Plitvice Lakes introduces new offerings to keep guests longer than a day.
Krka National Park records excellent attendance, while Plitvice Lakes introduces new offerings to keep guests longer than a day.
Krka National Park has so far this year been visited by more than half a million people, with domestic tourists being the most numerous, reports HRT Magazine. Despite the heat, Skradinski buk remains a must-see destination for visitors from around the world.
Nela Slavica, director of Krka National Park, emphasized that it is a favorite year-round destination. They are particularly pleased with the growth in arrivals during the pre- and post-season, which is why the three percent decline during the peak season does not worry them.
"I believe that this year we will achieve results like in previous years, meaning that more than a million people will certainly visit us," Slavica told HRT Magazine.
In addition to Croats, guests from neighboring European countries regularly return, and the number of tourists from the United Kingdom and the United States is also increasing. Visitors are managed in a way that serves the protection of biodiversity, which is affected by climate change and invasive species.
The Park Authority's main activities are currently focused on five-year nature protection projects. These include the restoration of the Mediterranean mosaic landscape, protection of endemic fish species, and selective removal of invasive species such as pike.
"What pleases us most is the latest project approved from European Union funds, which is the restoration of our natural phenomenon, the tufa barriers and waterfalls," Slavica highlighted.
In the Šibenik-Knin County, Skradinski buk represents the longest tufa barrier in Europe and the last one on the Krka River from its source to its mouth.
According to HRT's report, Plitvice Lakes National Park has no problem with visitor numbers, but the key challenge is keeping guests longer. Acting director Tomislav Kovačević says this year's numbers are satisfactory.
"Looking week by week, there were plus or minus 2 or 3 percent, but we are at the same level as last year, and as you can see from the number of people, it's the full season at Plitvice Lakes," Kovačević told HRT.
To keep tourists longer than a day, the municipality of Plitvička Jezera and the tourist board jointly completed the Glagolitic Promenade. Tourist board director Josipa Kukuruzović explained what visitors can expect on the trail.
"On the trail, we have Glagolitic letters along the entire path, but also painted rocks that show the history of the Croatian language," Kukuruzović said.
In addition, the Hotel Plitvice is being renovated to offer guests additional amenities. "They will have a short, smaller wellness program, and we will introduce other programs related to healthy living," Kovačević announced.
Plitvice is full of guests from all over the world. Goran Malinović, a 100% war veteran with a disability from Vukovar, now living in Zagreb, was pleasantly surprised by the park's care for people with disabilities. "They said everything is available - the train, the boat, and their staff are all there to help us, they will accommodate us," Malinović told HRT.
Rabi Kafle from Nepal is thrilled by the beauty of the waterfalls. "There are several waterfalls, the water is beautiful, and the pictures look very nice. I think this is the best place," Kafle said.
Chinese tourists had an interesting encounter when they met Chinese police officers on exchange at Plitvice. Mao Yumeng, a police officer from China, shared her impressions: "It's nice, beautiful, and safe here. The police are really kind and professional, always there to help. They explain things quite clearly, so we know how we can help too."
However, not everyone is satisfied. Restaurant owner Danijel Krizmanić speaks candidly about the challenges with prices. "Of course it's expensive, how could it not be, prices are different across the whole country, and guests are confused and probably boycotting us, saying they won't come. We probably deserved it," Krizmanić told HRT.
