Sustainable Tourism to the Part of Transboundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve “Mura-Drava-Danube”. A Case of Serbia, Croatia and Hungary

Igor Trišić, Donatella Privitera, Snežana Štetić, Marko D. Petrović, Milan M. Radovanović, Marija Maksin, Dario Šimičević, Sara Stanić Jovanović and Dobrila Lukić
Additional contact information
Igor Trišić: Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade, Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Snežana Štetić: Academy of Applied Studies Belgrade, The College of Tourism Belgrade, Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 152a, 11070 Belgrade, Serbia
Marko D. Petrović: Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Milan M. Radovanović: Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Marija Maksin: Institute of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 73/II, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Dario Šimičević: Academy of Applied Studies Belgrade, The College of Tourism Belgrade, Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 152a, 11070 Belgrade, Serbia
Sara Stanić Jovanović: Surčin Cultural Center, Vojvođanska 109, 11271 Belgrade, Serbia
Dobrila Lukić: Eighth Belgrade Grammar School, Grčića Milenka 71, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: Biosphere reserves are protected areas vital for the preservation of living and inanimate nature, including the protection of anthropogenic values and cultural heritage. The basins of the Mura, Drava, and Danube rivers stretch through Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Hungary, and Serbia and form a unique spatial unity. The Biosphere Reserve concept defines about 300,000 hectares of core and buffer zones and around 700,000 hectares of transition zones. This large, primarily marshy area is rich in natural and cultural heritage. This area is called “the Amazon of Europe” and represents the world’s first Transboundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, “Mura-Drava-Danube,” among five countries. This biosphere reserve is important for the preservation of the natural and cultural values of the entire region. Especially rare plant and animal representatives live in this unique geographical unity. Some species inhabit only this area. A total of 900,000 people living around this reserve have a rich cultural tradition and heritage that needs to be protected. The objective of the research is to examine the function that the selected protected areas have in the sustainable development of tourism. Quantitative methodology was used in the research. An analysis of the conducted questionnaire was performed using the SPSS v.21 software, as well as a comparative analysis of the attitudes of 1295 residents from three countries. Residents’ attitudes refer to the level of ecological, economic, socio-cultural, and institutional sustainability of this biosphere reserve as a tourist destination. The research results indicate that the four dimensions of sustainability have significant values and that the selected areas have an important function in the sustainable development of tourism.

Keywords: Transboundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve “Mura-Drava-Dunav”; Nature Park “Kopački Rit”; Special Nature Reserve “Gornje Podunavlje”; National Park “Danube-Drava”; sustainable tourism development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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