National parks' web-based communication with visitors. Evidence from piatra craiului national park in Romania and paklenica national park in Croatia

• Author: F. Nechita/I. Lozo/A. N. Candrea
• Position: Faculty of Sociology and Communication, University Transilvania of Brasov/Department of Tourism and Communication, University of Zadar/Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, University Transilvania of Brasov
• Pages: 139-150

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 7 (56) No. 2 - 2014

NATIONAL PARKS’ WEB-BASED

COMMUNICATION WITH VISITORS.

EVIDENCE FROM PIATRA CRAIULUI

NATIONAL PARK IN ROMANIA AND

PAKLENICA NATIONAL PARK IN

CROATIA

F. NECHITA1 I. LOZO2 A. N. CANDREA3

Abstract: Due to the advance of modern information and communication

technologies (ICT), communication processes are strongly linked to the use of

Web 2.0 tools. This offers unique and innovative opportunities for information

and communication work for protected areas. Considering this trend, the aim of

the present article is to analyze and compare the web-based communication of

two national parks: Piatra Craiului National Park (PCNP) in Romania and

Paklenica National Park (PNP) in Croatia. Based on previous studies, 36

variables were used for the evaluation of the two national parks’ websites,

grouped in five categories: 1) Tourism details a nd travel aids; 2) Visual, textual

information and presentation style; 3) Navigation and interactivity; 4)

Advertising; 5) Social media. Findings can be helpful for the managers of the two

national parks in order to optimize their websites and improve their effectiveness.

Key words: national parks, information and communication technologies,

webpage.

1 Faculty of Sociology and Communication, University Transilvania of Brasov.

2 Department of Tourism and Communication, University of Zadar.

3 Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, University Transilvania of Brasov.

1. Introduction

In the Protected Area Management

Categories adopted by the World

Conservation Union, a national park

(category II) is defined as a “protected area

managed mainly for ecosystem protection

and recreation” [6]. Since the first national

parks were designated, they have been given

a double role both as the destinations of

nature conservation and recreation and

tourism [26], [2], [32], [34]. A key issue in

the sustainable management of tourist

activities in national parks is the efficient

communication with visitors. They need to

be well informed about the national parks

they are visiting, from management policies

to the recreation experience. As a result,

visitors may be more likely to support

protected area policy [10].

The possibilities offered by modern ICT

are very interesting for national parks. This is

particularly true for the manifold information

and communication activities playing a key