Attitudes And Perceptions Of Urban Population Towards Winter Sports Tourism Development In Natural Protected Areas: The Case Of Zagreb And Medvednica Nature Park

Medvednica Nature Park, as a green oasis close to the capital city of Zagreb, is a highly valuable resource for relaxation and recreation of the urban population in a natural environment, but also an increasingly important attraction for tourists visiting the city of Zagreb and its surroundings. As the pressures on this area are increasingly pronounced in urbanisation, sports-recreational and tourism development terms, it was considered important to examine the attitudes and perceptions of the urban population towards the possibilities of developing winter sports tourism in this protected area. The data for this qualitative research was collected through a survey on a sample of 309 residents of the city of Zagreb. The research showed that residents often visit the Park in winter, and that this area still has more significance and value for the local population than as a tourist attraction for temporary visitors. Although the vast majority of respondents believe that the economic benefits of winter sports tourism are of great importance for the preservation of the Park and its further development, they are aware that such development exerts considerable pressure on the sustainability of the protected area. Among the limitations of the further development of winter sports tourism, respondents primarily see limited spatial capacity and insufficient infrastructure, but also inevitable climate changes that adversely affect the regularity of organizing international ski races and the image of Medvednica as a winter sports tourism destination. The findings of this research point to the need for increased care about available resources, as well as careful consideration of the possibilities and consequences of further development of winter sports tourism in the observed area. The originality of this research is reflected in its design and application in a specific area, which has not been scientifically investigated in this format so far.