Interpreting the Mediterranean Archaeological Landscape through Stakeholders’ Participation – The Case of Vrsar, Croatia

Abstract

The paper deals with the interpretation of the Mediterranean archaeological landscape in the sustainable development of cultural tourism, as an important attractive factor for tourists visiting countries in the region. It reflects on the possibilities of sustainable tourism valorisation of archaeological sites through participative stakeholders’ co-creation. The empirical research focused on the municipality of Vrsar, a typical Mediterranean destination characterised by mass tourism and high seasonality. The observed destination is also marked by an abundance of archaeological sites, which are still not adequately valorised, presented and interpreted. The empirical research, realised through workshops, interviews and questionnaires, has involved all relevant stakeholders (experts, local inhabitants, tourists). All key stakeholders agreed that the main sustainability issues could be improved through the sustainable valorisation of local cultural and natural resources by creating innovative tourism experiences - attracting much interest in participating in this co-creation process. The conducted research indicated the possible models of presentation and interpretation of the local archaeological landscape through archaeological routes connecting the most important sites, participatory experiences such as interactive workshops and living history programmes, and the network of interpretation centres in the function of the future archaeological parks.