Over 650,000 guests in eight national parks in H1

The eight national parks in Croatia registered slightly over 650,000 visitors in the first six months of 2011, with the Plitvice Lakes being the most visited place with over 313,000 guests, the Central Bureau of Statistics (DZS) reported last Monday.

Thus, a total of 650,325 guests were in the eight national parks in H1 2011, which was a 12% more in comparison to the first half of 2010. Of them 497,541 were foreigners, or 13.2 % more year on year, and the number of Croatians visiting the national parks went up by 8.4% to 152,784.

This increase is due to the growth in the number of visitors to the two most visited parks. The Plitvice Lakes saw a rise of 16% to 313,000 guests, and the Krka was the second most visited national park with 175,779 guests, or 8% increase year on year.

According to the DZS figures, the Brijuni national park was visited by 63,968 guests, the Paklenica had 43,175 visitors, the Mljet 22,627, the Kornati 14,980, the Risnjak 8,981 and the Northern Velebit national park 7,336 in H1 2011. (Hina)