THE QUEST FOR AUTHENTICITY: TOURISM EXPERIENCE IN A PROTECTED AREA OF NATURE

Abstract

Authenticity in tourism has now been for many years a particular challenge for professionals in tourism studies. The concept itself is rather vague, but also useful in analysing the supply of selected tourist destinations. The focus of the paper is on the analysis of the elements of authenticity in the selected protected area of nature in Slovenia. As a case study, we chose the Škocjanski zatok Nature reserve, an urban wetland in the immediate vicinity of Koper. The restored and renatured area acts as green oasis and successfully defies various pressures on this sensitive environment already twenty years after its formal establishment. After conducting a field research and interviews with key stakeholders, we find out that the understanding of authenticity is important in order to preserve the biodiversity of the Škocjanski zatok Nature reserve and, consequently, its uniqueness (in the context of tourism development). This should also be the main guideline, and challenge at the same time, for the management in creating an adequate tourist offer.