Krka National Park won the golden "Green destinations" award for sustainable tourism

Ahead of World Tourism Day, which is celebrated on September 27th, Krka National Park received the most renowned destination certificate in the world: the Green Destinations Award. This recognition is granted globally to tourist destinations that make special efforts to manage tourism sustainably. In this way, Krka National Park became the first tourist destination in Croatia and the second national park in the world to receive the gold award since it has been granted.

The prestigious award was presented to Krka National Park by Green Destinations, an international organization that provides a model for evaluating sustainable tourism standards and awards destinations that aim to preserve nature, protect cultural heritage, and improve the quality of life for local communities.

The sustainable development of Krka National Park is based on the preservation of natural values, the protection and conservation of cultural heritage, visitor management, interpretation and education, and cooperation with the local community. All these elements are part of the strategic and development documents of the Public Institution Krka National Park and have been implemented in annual work programs and the daily activities of all employees, who work continuously and diligently to apply the principles of sustainability in order to preserve this protected area in its original state for future generations. This has been recognized through this exceptionally demanding certification model, which includes nearly one hundred strict criteria.

"We are proud because we have met the strict criteria for sustainable tourism management and successfully completed the demanding Green Destinations certification process. This required comprehensive work in gathering and systematizing data, which demonstrated that Krka National Park has been successfully implementing the sustainability model into its management vision and applying it in practice for years. We are the first and currently the only destination in Croatia with the Green Destinations gold award, which shows that Krka National Park is a leading example of responsible and sustainable management in tourism, as well as a partner open to cooperation with local stakeholders in achieving common sustainability goals, which was particularly emphasized and requested during the certification process," said Nella Slavica, Director of the Public Institution Krka National Park, and added: "This is an exceptional recognition on a global level, which makes us especially proud, but also brings great responsibility to stay in line with global indicators, so we strive to constantly introduce new, better, and more innovative practices in sustainable development."

The gold award means that Krka National Park is exceptionally dedicated to sustainable management, nature and cultural protection, and achieving high standards in sustainable tourism. For local residents, this can mean more visitors who appreciate nature and cultural heritage, but also better management of tourism activities, which brings benefits to the community, such as resource preservation and job creation. For the destination, receiving this award can help attract visitors who seek more sustainable options and value places that protect nature, culture, and people.

Green Destinations is a global non-profit organization based in the Netherlands. Its goal is to improve the sustainable development of tourist destinations and stakeholders and promote their recognition on a global level. Green Destinations advocates for the development of sustainable and responsible tourism by following the principles of the United Nations and the goals of the Global Council for Sustainable Tourism, which is why it enjoys a strong reputation among tourists and key players in the tourism industry. On the other hand, it brings significant visibility to the global tourism market through presentations at tourism fairs and in international guides.

Izvor i foto: NP Krka