Description
The project has opened an old military site that had been closed to visitors for decades. The area was largely overgrown and inaccessible to tourists and local people. Now the area offers new social and economic prospects for the Krka river delta and the city of Šibenik. In addition, that helped fauna and flora to thrive and strengthened the Natura 2000 content of the site. This is now being used to encourage visitors to understand the preservation and sustainable management of such sites. The project combines natural and cultural heritage conservation with recreation possibilities to make the area attractive to citizens and tourists. New use of the site was motivated through a coordinated action of the county, local community and public authorities but involved local businesses and local inhabitants as well which will provide an even better basis for a sustainable use of the site in the future.
The project improved public tourism infrastructure and the management system of a Natura 2000 site where selective forms of active and cultural tourism were introduced. The site had a position where nature observation, a healthy environment, cultural heritage, sports and recreation could be developed as active forms of tourism. With completion of the project and construction of the infrastructure, the site provides the citizens of Šibenik and visitors with the opportunity to spend quality time in the countryside and enjoy various outdoor activities.
Results and impact
Some of the most important results from the project are:
The development of a functional recreational tourist facility for hikers and cyclists and improved access to cultural attractions on the left bank of the St Anthony Channel. This not only helps local inhabitants and offers them better living conditions and motivates them to adopt a healthier life but encourages tourism development that will impact on local economic development mostly through prolongation of the tourist season.
Coordination of institutional tourism stakeholders, public institutions and the local business community in the implementation of the project, resulting in a better understanding of the potential of natural and cultural protected resources in tourism. This helps in the management of nature and cultural sites in the County and help creates a better understand of the necessity for or sustainable use of these locations.
Type of activity
Building health promoting infrastructure
Physical actives in natural and cultural ecosystems
Health promotion in tourism
Place: Šibenik-Knin County, Croatia
Territorial level: Regional
Organizer: Public Institution for the Management of the Protected Natural Value of Šibenik-Knin County (lead partner), the Tourist board of the town of Šibenik, and the regional development agency of Šibenik-Knin County
Source: www.kanal-svetog-ante.com | www.strukturnifondovi.hr/ | European Commission (2016) Study on the Contribution of Sport to Regional Development through the Structural Funds, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.