The infrastructure of Cape Kamenjak cannot handle enormous crowds of people and vehicles – almost 3000 vehicles and more than 5000 people visit Cape Kapenjak every day, during the peak of the season.
A whopping 1753 vehicles are currently entering the protected area of Cape Kamenjak in the south of Istria, in the peak of the summer season. If we multiply it by an average of three people per vehicle, we come to a number of 5260 people who come here to sunbathe and swim every day, and this does not even include cyclists and pedestrians, reports Jutarnji on August 19, 2017.
Daily, around 420 cyclists and 450 pedestrians come to Cape Kamenjak. According to the Public Institution Kamenjak, last year, a total of 33,500 vehicles entered this area, and this year the number is expected to increase by as much as 10 percent. According to their statistics, Kamenjak has been discovered by tourists from Austria, Germany and Italy, and the number of visitors from Poland and the Czech Republic has also increased considerably. Many locals, therefore, avoid going to Kamenjak, which is no longer a hidden gem. Such large number of visitors can endanger the environment and the protection of nature.
Two-kilometre-long queues
A few days ago, there was a column of vehicles about two kilometres long from the entrance of Kamenjak all the way to Šćuza. “Maybe the column was for the entrance to Kamenjak, but maybe there was something else happening in Premantura. But that day has been the first day since I’ve been going to Kamenjak, and I’ve been going there for years, that I couldn’t find a single parking space available near Debeljak Bay. I know that it is the peak of the tourist season, but still, I cannot understand that there is not one parking space available. Kamenjak is no longer a hidden place, it is now a place which is completely filled with towels, and the cars are parked everywhere – on the road, by the pathways, on every green surface available nearby. It’s absolute chaos. And I don’t even want to talk about the state of the toilets here,” said one of the readers who was on her way to Kamenjak.
The popularity of this place had led to this chaotic situation that this area can no longer handle such a large number of daily visitors, who have to leave their vehicles somewhere, as well as their trash.
“I wonder how all this will impact nature and whether this area is being protected – I don’t think so. I believe that all of us who are paying for the entrance to Kamenjak want it to look completely different. It is necessary to invest in traffic infrastructure that will develop with the increase of the number of visitors. Otherwise, this makes no sense,” she said.
The director of the Public Institution Kamenjak, Maja Šarić, agrees with the statement. “The study of the reception capacity clearly shows that the traffic load of Kamenjak is too large and that such high number of vehicles, often reaching 3000 in high season, may cause serious devastation of the area. The intention of the Public Institution Kamenjak is to reduce the number of vehicles in this area for the sake of preservation and further protection of the environment,” Šarić said.
The problem of parking zones
“We have finally completed studies of the reception capacity of the area, as well as traffic and tourism studies, and after this season we plan to begin the construction of the parking zones which will be aligned with the spatial plan. We will also make a decision which will prevent parking at the inappropriate places, such as by the coast or on green areas, where strictly protected plant and animal species are living” she added.
The revenue of this public institution is increasing as the number of visitors increases. In 2014 the generated revenue amounted to HRK 3,600,000, in 2015 4,900,000, and last year 5,000,000 kuna without VAT. “This year we have registered a growth of just over 10 percent. Throughout the whole year, we are preparing for the incoming season. Since we are 100 percent self-financed, all the proceeds go to finance the area through maintenance, projects and research,” Maja Šarić concludes.
Tourists who cause damages will be fined
The decision on the protection measures will also impose fines for visitors who ignore the rules of conduct in the area and knowingly damage and endanger the sustainability of the place,” said Director Maja Šarić, adding that they will soon plan to construct the main road which will enable the introduction of alternative forms transport in this area.
“The base of the main road has already been made and we are waiting for the cadastral register to confirm that they have mapped out the road so that we can move on and realize our plans,” adds Maja Šarić.
Translated from Jutarnji.hr
