<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>An approach to sustainable tourism through clusters is considered an appropriate strategy in less-developed rural areas of tourist-oriented countries, such as Croatia. This paper clarifies the key challenges of the development of tourism clusters in the region of Gorska Hrvatska and provides new data for an approach to sustainable rural tourism development. Using available secondary data from governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, protected areas of Gorska Hrvatska, and primary data of the Lika Destination Cluster, the paper explores the key challenges of developing a cluster of tourism and selective forms of tourism. Most tourism clusters in Croatia have remained in the first phase of development for years, even though this approach has failed to to achieve significant results. The key benefits of networking and branding in rural areas are identified and defined, but these potentials are still largely underutilized. The objective of this study is to provide practical recommendations to the Croatian tourism industry on how to learn from the suggested best practices and how to implement them effectively. For that purpose, the case of sustainable tourism located in the Gorska Hrvatska region, called the Lika Destination Cluster is analyzed.</p></abstract>

An approach to sustainable tourism through clusters is considered an appropriate strategy in less-developed rural areas of tourist-oriented countries, such as Croatia. This paper clarifies the key challenges of the development of tourism clusters in the region of Gorska Hrvatska and provides new data for an approach to sustainable rural tourism development. Using available secondary data from governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, protected areas of Gorska Hrvatska, and primary data of the Lika Destination Cluster, the paper explores the key challenges of developing a cluster of tourism and selective forms of tourism. Most tourism clusters in Croatia have remained in the first phase of development for years, even though this approach has failed to to achieve significant results. The key benefits of networking and branding in rural areas are identified and defined, but these potentials are still largely underutilized. The objective of this study is to provide practical recommendations to the Croatian tourism industry on how to learn from the suggested best practices and how to implement them effectively. For that purpose, the case of sustainable tourism located in the Gorska Hrvatska region, called the Lika Destination Cluster is analyzed.

Regional Development of Rural Tourism: The Case of the Gorska Hrvatska Region

Naše gospodarstvo/Our economy

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Regional Development of Rural Tourism: The Case of the Gorska Hrvatska Region"}

An approach to sustainable tourism through clusters is considered an appropriate strategy in less-developed rural areas of tourist-oriented countries, such as...

Regional Development of Rural Tourism: The Case of the Gorska Hrvatska Region

Published Online: Jul 04, 2020

Page range: 28 - 41

Received: Feb 01, 2020

Accepted: May 01, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ngoe-2020-0009

Keywords
rural tourism, Gorska Hrvatska, clusters, protected areas, competitiveness, Lika Destination Cluster

© 2020 Nina Baković, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Regional Development of Rural Tourism: The Case of the Gorska Hrvatska Region

Published Online: Jul 04, 2020

Page range: 28 - 41

Received: Feb 01, 2020

Accepted: May 01, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ngoe-2020-0009

Keywordsrural tourism, Gorska Hrvatska, clusters, protected areas, competitiveness, Lika Destination Cluster

© 2020 Nina Baković, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
rural tourism, Gorska Hrvatska, clusters, protected areas, competitiveness, Lika Destination Cluster