Lastovo is getting a visitor center, followed by a complete renovation of mountain lodges on Risnjak and Velebit 

With the help of the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, further investments are being made in arranging visitor infrastructure in National Parks and Nature Parks, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development pointed out yesterday. Damir Habijan, during the opening of the new lookout point "Tomić's view" in Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Let us remind you that yesterday Plitvice Lakes National Park solemnly celebrated the 75th anniversary of its establishment and 45 years since it entered the UNESCO world natural heritage list. On this occasion, a new visitor infrastructure was officially opened - lookout Tomić's look. 

It is an impressive viewpoint on the Stubica hill that offers an unforgettable panoramic view of the Upper Lakes - five lakes and the surrounding peaks.

Damir Habijan: The mountain infrastructure is quite in a bad state, that's why we provided funds for the restoration of visitor infrastructure in National Parks and Nature Parks

Minister Habijan announced new investments on the topic of investment in visitor infrastructure in National Parks and Nature Parks.

With the help of the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, we are starting with further investments in arranging visitor infrastructure in National Parks and Nature Parks, announced Habijan and added: 

"Together with the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development will take special care of investments in mountain lodges and reconstruction of existing facilities. On Risnjak and Velebit, the plan is to restore mountain lodges, and on Lastovo, the reconstruction of an abandoned barracks into a visitor center.", Habijan points out.

The issue of mountain infrastructure, i.e. the future of mountain lodges, was in focus related to the new Act on the Management of Real Estate and Movable Property Owned by the Republic of Croatia.

Namely, the Law regulates, among other things, the management of mountaineering facilities in such a way that they are managed by public institutions in charge of managing a national park or nature park in protected areas of nature, and outside this area, mountaineering lodges are managed by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and State Property.

"With the new law on real estate management, it is already very clear that nothing will change, the homes will continue to have their lease agreement, only the legal framework will be regulated more strongly. Mountaineering infrastructure, especially when we talk about the National Park Risnjak and Velebit, are in of course, without the help of the state and larger financial resources, it will be difficult to do so, and that is why I am glad that through the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency, we will provide funds for the renovation of mountain lodges in the area of ​​Risnjak and Velebit in the coming period. But also, after a long time, for the visitor infrastructure project concerning the Lastovo Islands, which I think is excellent, considering that Lastovo lacks visitor infrastructure." Habijan stated. 

Planned investments in mountaineering and visitor infrastructure 2024 - 2026: nand in Lastovo, an abandoned barracks is being reconstructed into a visitor center, complete renovation of mountain lodges on Risnjak and Velebit.

In a public institution "Žumberak Nature Park - Samobor Mountains" followed by reconstruction and furnishing Mountain lodge Žintica on Japetić including the surrounding contents of active tourism, the renovation of the Piramida lookout point and the construction of an adrenaline park and zipline, the renovation of the Jelenić House in Jelenići into a mountaineering lodge, and the arrangement of 174 km of a circular pedestrian path with a total value of over 5.602.782,17 euros.

In the Risnjak National Park, investments amount to over 4.5 million euros, and they will be arranged Mountain lodge Snježnik value (1,2 million € + VAT) and Mountain lodge Risnjak (€1,8 million + VAT)

In the National Park Northern Velebit it will be arranged Mountain lodge Zavižan value €2,8 million + VAT, while in the Nature Park Velebit arrange Mountain lodge Visočica value €1,2 million + VAT.

While the Nature Park will Lastovo archipelago get Veje visitor center more value €1,6 million + VAT.

"We expect the implementation of the three mentioned projects in the next two to three years. The Ministry has recognized the importance of investing in visitor infrastructure with special emphasis in the next period for mountain lodges which, as I have already said, are in a bad state in some national parks and nature parks." concluded Habijan. 

Photo: Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development