The mountainous Gorski Kotar region would be a perfect setting for the so-called Walks in the Trees, i.e. promenades built a few metres above ground that make it possible to observe nature while walking among the treetops. Representatives of the Gorski Kotar Tourist Board are embracing the idea as they plan potential investments in the tourism infrastructure, writes Novi list.
At a recent tourism event in Slovenia, they got in touch with a prominent Czech investor Jan Hrebačka of the company Zažitkova Akademie who deals in construction of such facilities. He has shown considerable interest and requested additional information about potential locations in Gorski Kotar.
The tourist board contacted all local self-government units in this region and collected seven proposals as a result. In alphabetical order, Brod Moravice Municipality proposed the area around the Hunters’ House Lazica as a good location for a treetop walk. Delnice nominated the forest park Japlenški Vrh. Fužine proposed two options – the area along Lake Lepenica and the area around the lookout point on Preradović. In Lokve, there are plenty of scenic locations along the Lokvarsko Lake, Mrkopalj proposed the area Zagmajne, and Skrad proposed the mountain Skradski Vrh. Ravna Gora, Vrbovsko and Čabar have not yet come forth with their locations.
All the submissions are reinforced with data on the surface area of the proposed locations, as well as great video footage that will certainly help with the selection because it clearly shows the attributes of each proposed space. According to Gorski Kotar Tourist Board Director Petar Hrg, there are good chances of foreign investors deciding on one of the offered locations.
‘The fact that they were the first to contact us speaks of their interest in this area. They already have several such projects in Europe and each of them has become a tourist attraction, and the investors also benefit from the accompanying tourism infrastructure. Because of all this, the construction of such an attractive facility in any of the proposed locations would mean a lot for tourism in that particular area, but also for Gorski Kotar as a whole’, said Hrg.
He also pointed out that there are certain benefits associated with financing that could be seen as an incentive by the investor.
‘As a rule, this investor doesn’t call on the local self-government to participate, but starts the investment himself. Naturally, where these Gorski Kotar locations are considered, as well as any others that may be proposed later, each of the local self-governments will certainly try to set the best possible foundations through spatial planning and supporting infrastructure’ said Hrg.
Their potential future associates have been informed of this, and are soon coming to Gorski Kotar to visit all seven proposed locations.
‘We’ll strive to make the best possible impression on our guests, so that they wouldn’t only invest in one treetop promenade in this area, but more of them. In any case, their arrival presents us with a completely new idea for our region, which might motivate other investors to come up with similar ideas and ventures. Gorski Kotar is truly getting more and more interesting to many, which means that investors are increasingly turning to us. Of course, this should be appreciated, and we should try to attract as many of them as possible with a high quality offer’, said the Tourist Board director.
It should be noted that the proposal of the seven locations includes data on the proximity of big urban areas, the total population within 200 kilometres of Gorski Kotar, the strong tourist market of Kvarner and Istria which can easily generate visits to Gorski Kotar locations as well, etc. In short, this data can certainly convince potential investors that investing in tourism in the Gorski Kotar region is definitely worth their while.
