Krka National Park has received the prestigious bronze award from the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), being declared one of Europe’s leading destinations for sustainable cultural tourism. The competition featured 48 projects from 14 countries, with gold going to the Transylvanian Plateau project from Romania and silver to the DescOpera festival from Moldova.
“This award is extremely important to us because it will raise the recognition of Krka National Park as a European cultural tourism destination, enable the exchange of experiences and knowledge, and strengthen cooperation with other destinations,” stated Nella Slavica, director of the Public Institution “Krka National Park,” in an interview with nacional.hr.
In Krka National Park, she emphasizes, we are constantly developing cultural tourism as the foundation of sustainable management, with the goal of more evenly distributing visits across space and time. Special emphasis is placed on highlighting the rich cultural-historical heritage, supporting upstream sites along the Krka River, and relieving pressure on the most popular areas, such as Skradinski Buk.
Growth in visits during pre- and post-season
“Data for 2024 clearly show the success of our activities: in the pre-season we recorded 25% more visits, and in the post-season 8% more compared to 2023. This testifies to the growing interest in educational and cultural programs outside the main season,” says Slavica.
Our goal, she adds, is to strongly involve the local community, schools, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs, strengthen local identity and heritage, and encourage economic progress in the wider area.
An example is the Burnum Idus event, which we organize at an archaeological site without developed infrastructure, more than 40 kilometers from the main tourist centers. Despite the challenges, it has become a recognizable brand and a favorite summer event, loved for its authenticity, high quality, and unique experience among visitors and locals alike.
Rich cultural offer of the park
The park’s cultural offer is complemented by restored watermills at Roški Slap and Skradinski Buk, which showcase life along the Krka River from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century. Traditional crafts such as grain milling, weaving, and blacksmithing are demonstrated there.
Nearby are traces of the historic Krka Hydroelectric Power Plant – the world’s first power plant that, based on Tesla’s patent, illuminated Šibenik with alternating current in 1895. These industrial monuments connect nature and ethnography, preserving the knowledge and identity of the region.
The “Thread by Thread – Apron” workshop for children brings traditional skills closer to younger generations.
76% of visitors attracted by heritage
In 2024, more than 45,000 visitors chose to tour sites on the upper and middle course of the Krka – a 167% increase compared to 2015.
The Burnum Idus and Krka Fest events annually attract more than 10,000 people, and a survey by the Polytechnic in Šibenik reveals that, in addition to natural beauty, as many as 76% of visitors come precisely because of the cultural-historical heritage. The park’s documentary films on digital channels record thousands of views, increasing global visibility and accessibility of the content.
This award proves that Krka National Park not only preserves its treasures but actively interprets and shares them with the world, creating harmony between nature and culture, concludes Slavica.
In the future, we plan to expand cultural events, walking and cycling trails, educational programs and workshops, and further support rural development along the Krka River.
