The national park will be visited by a UNESCO inspection to monitor the conditions once again.
A new visitor management regime, online ticket sales and higher prices are just some of the news which has been prepared by the old management of the Plitvice Lakes National Park for 2018, reports Večernji List on January 2, 2018.
However, less than two months ago a new management team was appointed, headed by Antonija Dujmović. They are reportedly not happy with the plans, and significant changes could occur. Still, it is not yet clear what kind of changes might happen in the world-famous park, which has been burdened for some time by the frequent dismissal of management, an excessive number of tourists visiting it during summer months, and the construction of apartment facilities in the park and its vicinity.
What is known is that online ticket sales have not yet been launched, while higher ticket prices for the 2018 season could also be revoked. “The management of the Plitvice Lakes National Park is not completely satisfied with the projected prices and will make adequate corrections;” said the park’s representatives, not explaining whether the price hikes planned during the term of the previous managing director are considered to be too high or, perhaps, too low.
The new ticket price list for 2018 came into force on 1 January, but considerably higher prices were supposed to take effect for the season starting on 1 April. It was expected that an adult ticket, from the beginning of April to the beginning of July, would cost 150 kuna instead of the current 110 kuna, while in July and August the price would jump from 180 to 250 kuna.
The final outcome, according to a short response received from the National Park’s administration, should be known after the first session of the Plitvice Lakes Governing Council in the new year.
In other news, the beginning of this year will bring another kind of challenge to the park. It is expected that a new UNESCO inspection will arrive in February to assess the conditions in the park. The organisation has previously issued serious warnings about the excessive number of visitors to the park and construction in the national park area, which raised concerns that the park could lose its place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Translated from Večernji List.
