CAN SCUTTLING CONTRIBUTE TO EXPANDING THE CROATIAN TOURISM OFFERING? Daniela Gračan University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija

ToSEE - Tourism in South East Europe 3rd International Scientific Conference Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Quality of Life University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija THEORETICAL BACKGROUND Pronounced seasonality of Croatian tourism The causes: mass tourism seasonal employment low utilization of all the tourist capacities outside of the main season infrastructure overload during the summer months increasing pressure on the environment The consequences: ecological issues overcrowding service quality decrease discontent of the guests

ToSEE - Tourism in South East Europe 3rd International Scientific Conference Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Quality of Life University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija THEORETICAL BACKGROUND Growing forms of nautical tourism - recreational diving Diving as an activity of boaters in 2004, 2007 and 2012 (in %) Recreational diving – a year-round tourism product The dive season begins as early as March/April, lasting up to November Recreational diving - growing at an annual rate of 15% to 20%. YearShare (%) of total activities in a destination

ToSEE - Tourism in South East Europe 3rd International Scientific Conference Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Quality of Life University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija SCUTTLING Scuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into its hull. Sunken ships – attraction for divers Naval Wrecks scuttled as artificial reef dive sites in Australia YearLocationNameClassification 1997Geographe Bay, Dunsborough, WAEx-HMAS SwanDestroyer escort (Leander) 2001King George Sound, Albany, WAEx-HMAS Perth Guide missile destroyer (DDG) 2002Yankalilla Bay, The Fleurieu Peninsula, SAEx-HMAS Hobart Guide missile destroyer (DDG) 2005Off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, QldEx-HMAS Brisbane Guide missile destroyer (DDG) 2009Bass Strait, off Barwon Heads, VicEx-HMAS CanberraGuide missile frigate (FFG) 2011Bulbararing Bay, off Avoca Beach, NSWEx-HMAS AdelaideGuide missile frigate (FFG)

ToSEE - Tourism in South East Europe 3rd International Scientific Conference Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Quality of Life University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija SCUTTLING Overview of the scuttling project of Malta Number of divers in the total number of tourists on Malta, 2005 – 2011 MonthYearScuba DivingTotal Tourists Apr-Dec Jan-Dec Jan-May

ToSEE - Tourism in South East Europe 3rd International Scientific Conference Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Quality of Life University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija SCUTTLING Overview of the scuttling project of Malta Dive sites on Comino, Malta

ToSEE - Tourism in South East Europe 3rd International Scientific Conference Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Quality of Life University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija SCUTTLING Overview of the scuttling project in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Network of dive centers and dive clubs in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County RegionDive centresDive clubs Liburnia region62 Rijeka region613 Crikvenica-Vinodol region52 Krk Island325 Cres Island8- Lošinj Island73 Rab Island43 TOTAL6828

ToSEE - Tourism in South East Europe 3rd International Scientific Conference Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Quality of Life University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija SCUTTLING Overview of the scuttling project in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County

ToSEE - Tourism in South East Europe 3rd International Scientific Conference Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Quality of Life University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija SCUTTLING Overview of the scuttling project in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Planned – 10 locations /ecological - traffic – tourist conditions The depth at which a vessel is scuttled m Away from navigable routes Environmentally friendly and safe for divers New locations – spatial plans/sports and recreational purposes Intergrating scuttled ships into the tourism offering would contribute to boosting overall economic development, as well as the development of the tourist destination thus increasing the satisfaction of all stakeholders – tourists and tourism management organizations – and raising the living standard and quality of life of the citizens of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.

ToSEE - Tourism in South East Europe 3rd International Scientific Conference Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Quality of Life University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija SCUTTLING Overview of the scuttling project in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County

ToSEE - Tourism in South East Europe 3rd International Scientific Conference Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Quality of Life University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija CONCLUSION Sunk vessels on the seabed become locations for the development of the special biocenosis and habitat for the sea organisms and fish and therefore become interesting underwater attractions for the divers. Besides that, oases like that also become significant for the underwater care because they become places where usually fishing is not allowed. Primorje-Gorski Kotar County has the potential needed to develop this type of tourism product which would result in positive effects in improving the tourism offering and extending the tourist season.

Thank you for your attention! Daniela Gračan Univrsity of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija