Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Research Articles

Coastal vulnerability index for the indented coastline of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia

The study explores the general vulnerability of the coastline, with a focus on assessing vulnerability using the coastal vulnerability index (CVI) along the highly indented coastline of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (PGC), Croatia. Vulnerability was assessed every 25 m of the 1235 km long coastline by calculating the CVI based on five representative variables: geological setting, coastal slope in relation to terrain instabilities (rockfalls and landslides), significant wave height, coastal flooding, and beaches, which were also integrated into a single overall CVI. The length of the coastline, characterised by different relief forms, and the scale of available data required an adaptation of the commonly used methodology. The results show a low overall vulnerability, mainly due to the prevalence of relatively resistant carbonate sedimentary rocks along the coasts. However, almost a quarter of the investigated coastline is highly or very highly vulnerable to coastal flooding. Of particular concern is the fact that many of the most vulnerable areas are inhabited. Analyses at this scale are suitable for regional spatial planning. The results of the conducted research are available publicly online, which enables their practical application for planning and management of coastal areas. Adaptation to the impacts of climate change is highly dependent on the location itself, but overall, this assessment provides indications of the most vulnerable locations in the PGC, where it is necessary to limit interventions in the coastal area.

New Challenges to Managing Cultural Routes: The Visitor Perspective

In recent decades, cultural routes have become increasingly important in the tourism offerings of rural destinations. It is vital to identify the factors that visitors consider important to their satisfaction with a cultural route and its overall impact on a tourist destination. This paper employs Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to investigate the dimensions of visitor satisfaction on cultural routes. A survey assessed satisfaction with 37 specific aspects of a cultural route in a tourist destination, revealing three key dimensions: satisfaction with destination characteristics, tourism infrastructure, and the cultural roots offerings. The findings highlight the need to move beyond traditional models of tourist satisfaction that focus on specific experiences and instead explore overall factors contributing to tourist satisfaction with a destination. The study examines cultural routes in rural regions of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in Croatia and neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. The scientific findings have significant implications for cultural route managers, aiding in the innovation and creation of offerings that will enhance tourist and visitor satisfaction.

Spread of Puumala Hantavirus to New Areas in a Large Croatian Outbreak of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, 2021.

Background: The largest documented outbreak of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome occurred in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia, in 2021, marking the first-time cases of hantavirus infection recorded outside of the known endemic region in the north of the county. Aim: To identify the factors contributing to the spread of the outbreak and to compare risk factors for acquiring hantavirus infection in the endemic and newly affected regions. Methods and Results: A total of 189 cases were confirmed by positive Puumala IgM/IgG antibodies (93.6%), and 13 probable cases were identified by clinical and epidemiological data (6.4%) using a structured questionnaire. Of the 179 cases with available clinical data, 59 (33.0%) were hospitalized. Three cases received hemodialysis, and no deaths were reported. Among 170 cases with information on exposures, 66 (38.8%) reported occupational risk. Cases in the northern part of county were more likely to have been infected in early spring (OR 27.1, 95% CI 2.93-250.7), to report seeing a rodent (OR 6.5; 95%CI 2.3-18.4), and to know someone with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) (OR 3.0; 95%CI 1.2-8.0) than cases from the southern part of the county. Data from Croatian Forests Ltd. suggested that an unusually good production of beech seeds in 2020 may have contributed to an increased rodent population in 2021. However, average temperature, rainfall, and humidity data from 2021 did not illustrate a significant difference from previous years (Kruskal-Wallis p = 0.837, p = 0.999, p = 0.108). Conclusion: The 2021 HFRS outbreak was likely fueled by an abundant rodent population and virus transmission in rodent hosts. Human activity, environmental factors, and the ensuing animal-human interactions have spread hantavirus infection from Croatia's mountainous region to a previously nonendemic coastal area with a Mediterranean climate.

Park Heritage of the Island of Krk between Urban Transformations and Climate Change

The island of Krk in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia, is also called the Golden Island because of its favorable geographical location, the diversity of natural and urban landscapes, the beauty of the coast and the sea, the wealth of tangible and intangible heritage, and especially because of the opportunities for living and working. During the last century and in this century, urban landscapes have been exposed to dramatic changes that transformed old castles or former smaller settlements of the local population into tourist centers and desirable places for permanent or temporary residence. A significant part of their complex structure is the cultural and historical heritage, within which the island’s park heritage has so far been insufficiently recognized and valued. Therefore, this paper examines forty selected public park spaces in the area of all local self-government units of the island of Krk in the context of urban transformations and climate change. It is concluded that the island’s park heritage has often been created as a result of urban transformations in which, despite being exposed to constant changes, it is mostly preserved, but that recently, new elements of this heritage are emerging. A new challenge is the threat of the consequences of climate change—increasingly frequent and long-lasting droughts, extreme precipitation and flash floods, stormy winds, rising sea level and salinization, which further emphasizes the need to preserve the park heritage of the island of Krk in the context of resistance to climate change.

The condition of agricultural soils in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia

In the context of sustainability and the use of natural resources, it has been often shown that agricultural soils do not reach their productive function to their full potential. The ability of the soil to provide plants with appropriate growing conditions is reduced due to soil degradation. Documenting soil conditions aimed at determining soil quality indicators in relation to soil management enables to identify the type and location of degradation in order to suggest corrective measures to farmers for the soil fertility improvement. Since the basis for the successful agricultural production is appropriate soil quality from one side, and the soil quality improvement, monitoring and protection are priority according to the current legal acts, the new European Soil Strategy for 2030 and the Soil Act planned for 2023 from another side, the soil testing laboratory of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (PGKC) conducted the initial studies in 2019. Soil samples from the agricultural field in PGKC were tested using fast methods for following parameters: soil pH, total CaCO3, nitrate content, content of plant available phosphorus, potassium and magnesium, total calcium, aggregate stability and electrical conductivity. The test results idnicated the relative condition of the soil at different locations and in different crops. In addition, the results served as a basis for the sustainable soil management measures suggestion to the farmers in PGKC.

The Recognition of an E-Mail Phishing Cyberattack in Business Organizations

information (personal or official) for financial gain. That is one of the oldest cyber threats. There is a wide range of phishing attack techniques, and the most frequent one is performed via electronic mail. Due to major changes in conducting business in the last pandemic, which entail remote work, fast digital transformation and the increase of ICT technologies, the statistics show that phishing attacks are on the rise. Employees who lack developed awareness of phishing attacks, responsibility and knowledge represent a potential danger to the entire organisation. This paper describes the research on e-mail phishing recognition in business organisations in Primorje-Gorski kotar County. The research showed that employees are not aware of phishing attacks to a sufficient extent and that all the habits contributing to the IT security level regarding these attacks are not satisfying. To protect against such attacks, organisations should, in addition to implementing safety technical measures, actively educate employees and periodically implement testing.

Primjena višekriterijske analize u odabiru čokacije LNG terminala

Positioning of large energy facilities is, as a rule, accompanied by a strong rejection of local and regional communities, without which it is not possible to determine the location and construction conditions for the facility in spatial plans. However, a synergy of three components may enable a successful project realization. Firstly, the application of verified and objective scientific methods for the selection of the most appropriate LNG terminal location. Secondly, the consideration of the best world practices in project documentation preparation for such terminal construction. And lastly, the continuous involvement of the local community into the entire process. The paper presents an approach aimed at solving the problem of choice by applying the methodology of choosing the “best compromise location” based on system characteristics, available data, set criteria, and limitations. The key “dimension” of such a problem is “space”, i.e. the spatial aspects of location selection. The paper provides an overview of the activities, procedures, and methods used to define the optimal location of the receiving LNG terminal in the Republic of Croatia as part of the analysis and research carried out by EKONERG and in the function of creating the Spatial Plan of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. Accordingly, the main objective of this paper was to highlight the specifics of LNG terminal site selection as well as the possibility of objectively defining the optimal location using the multi-criteria decision-making method that simultaneously takes into account all influential factors and criteria in defining it. The paper uses the methodology of multi-attribute decision process and multicriteria analysis of the selection of the optimal location of the LNG terminal on the territory of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. It systematically and scientifically analyses, consistently formulates, and proposes elimination and comparative criteria necessary to determine the optimal location of the LNG terminal for the purpose of drafting regional level spatial planning documents. The presented methodology was carried out using the process of multicriteria ranking of variants. The method of weighted sum values was used. Weighting factors are determined partly in an exact way (where possible) and partly based on the application of Delphi group decision-making methods. The methodology was tested on a concrete example of variant analysis for the location of LNG terminals in the Republic of Croatia. By implementing the presented methodology, the location of the northern part of the island of Krk was determined as optimal for the location of the LNG terminal. The aforementioned was implemented in the Spatial Plan of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and the first phase of the receiving LNG terminal was built and put into full operation.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDINGS CONDITION ASSESSMENT: CASE OF PRIMORJE-GORSKI KOTAR COUNTY (CROATIA)

This study deals with the condition examination of elementary school buildings in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia. For schools to be functional and of high quality, adequate maintenance is mandatory. Therefore, school maintenance programs need information on the building's condition based on systematic and comprehensive assessments as a primary input. This study aims to establish a framework for assessing the condition of school buildings, based on which information can be obtained quickly and practically regarding the condition of all critical facility elements. To this end, a database on schools and their conditions was created. The conditions of school buildings in terms of damage and defects and their causes were determined. Descriptive and inferential statistical operations were performed on the collected data. A condition assessment of the buildings was performed using a questionnaire survey among the principals, based on the school buildings division model developed in this study; the model presents building elements and a systematic visual condition rating scale. According to the available data, this is Croatia's first condition assessment on elementary school buildings. The main results show that on average, the examined schools are in good condition. Moreover, according to the results, the school building condition is most affected by dilapidation and lack of financial resources.

Project Management Methodology in Regional Self-Government Units

Project implementation is one of the key activities in the process of ensuring development. In public institutions, the challenges in project management are particularly evident. Organizational inflexibility and an inability to adequately evaluate work are particularly emphasized, often creating problems during project implementation. These challenges become even greater if the financing of the project is planned with EU grants or other financial instruments that require great precision and thus exceptional project management skills. This document will present an effective project management model, as well as programs and portfolios in regional self-government units. A methodology has been developed to encourage the transformation of public systems from rigidly functional to project systems. The methodology was tested in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Republic of Croatia. An analysis of the quality of implementation of twenty projects has been carried out: an analysis of the final results of ten projects in which the methodology has been applied and of ten projects in which the methodology has not been applied. After conducting empirical research and analysis, the quality of the proposed model was proven at all levels of governance within the public sector. By applying this methodology, significant advances can be made in the quality of realized projects while ensuring the realistic dynamics of this realization and rational financial costs.

Recentna imigracija radne snage u Hrvatsku: razmjeri, trendovi, obilježja

The paper aims to analyse the determinants of international migration among the Croatian population in the recent period following Croatia's entry into the European Union in 2013, with a special focus on the increased immigration to Croatia. The fundamental assumption is that, in addition to emigration from Croatia, the immigration of foreign workers to Croatia is also on the rise. This influx is primarily from economically less developed Asian and African countries. Meanwhile, immigration from the traditional workforce pool, the area of Southeastern Europe, is decreasing significantly. However, this region remains relatively the dominant source of migrants. Workforce immigration to Croatia has been singled out as a separate research unit, which not only examines the scale and basic characteristics of “foreigners” in Croatia but also provides an overview of the factors conditioning the existing relations within the labour market in Croatia. Demographic trends at the state level have significantly affected changes in the working-age and active population in Croatia. This includes a reduction in the work potential of the resident population. In addition to these established changes, other challenges in the labour market, primarily educational and profile-related, can be singled out. In addition to the reduction in the number of the working-age population, there is a structural mismatch between the current supply and demand for jobs. This mismatch results in either a shortage or a surplus of workers in certain industries, consequently contributing to the overall increase in general unemployment among the resident population and/or the need to compensate for the lack of labour through “import”. In 2015, Croatia experienced a very high unemployment rate, close to 43%, among young people up to the age of 25. This figure was twice as high as the average for EU member states. Additionally, there was a significant number of young people in Croatia who were not active in the labour market. Despite having no obstacles and not being included in the education and/ or training system, these individuals were not actively seeking employment either (Obadić, 2017). The total number of persons who immigrated to Croatia from 2016 to 2022 slightly exceeds 220,000, with 70% of them being foreigners. Furthermore, a much faster relative increase in the immigration of foreign citizens was observed compared to the immigration of Croatian citizens, especially in 2021 and 2022. The relative share of 84% of immigrants of working age confirms the assumption that it is primarily a question of workforce migration. This statistical evidence suggests that the arrival of foreigners to work in Croatia constitutes a significant portion of this migration. According to the total number of foreigners who immigrated to Croatia and their country of origin, three geographical areas stand out: other European countries (countries outside the EEA) with almost 67%, Asian countries (14,35%) and European Union countries with 13,66%. The largest relative increase in immigration was registered from Asia. However, in absolute terms, more than 105,000 foreigners immigrated to Croatia from other European countries, primarily from BiH, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, etc. (2016–2022). The analysis of external migration from 2016 to today indicates a number of changes in migration processes, including their character, nature, volume, etc. They will affect the main sources of foreign labour in Croatia, signalling the beginning of the substitution of the traditional, regional labour pool with new emitting areas, i.e. workers from economically disadvantaged Asian and African countries. In 2021, the majority of foreigners, accounting for 35%, immigrated to the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County, while 37% chose the six “Adriatic” counties, mostly Split-Dalmatia, Istria, and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. Although foreign immigration is significantly lower in other counties, the noteworthy achievement of a positive migration balance “with foreigners” in all counties in 2021 confirms the assumption that this determinant will increasingly impact the total balance of counties with foreign countries. In the last three years, slightly more than 31,000 requests from citizens of EEA member states for temporary residence in Croatia were approved. However, based on the purpose of stay, only 7,000 requests were approved for work in Croatia. From 2017 to 2020, 26,500 people met the conditions for permanent residence in Croatia, predominantly Germans, Slovenians, Italians and Austrians of retirement age who are extensively investing in real estate along the Adriatic. In conclusion, it should be noted how the two characteristic processes of increased immigration to Croatia in the last 5 years differ. The immigration of foreigners from non-European countries is primarily related to labour force migration, which is still in its early stages. On the other hand, there is the specific immigration of citizens of EU member states who, in their retirement age, immigrate to Croatia without work potential. The absolute and relative relations between these two groups will ultimately affect the total migration balance of “foreigners”

Surveillance of Legionella pneumophila: Detection in Public Swimming Pool Environment.

The bacterium Legionella pneumophila is a ubiquitous microorganism naturally present in water environments. The actual presence of this opportunistic premise plumbing pathogen in recreational swimming pools and hot tubs in the northwestern part of Croatia has not been investigated. This study aimed to analyze the presence of the opportunistic pathogen L. pneumophila in public swimming pool water in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (N = 4587) over a four-year period (2018-2021). Additionally, the second aim was to investigate the connection between the presence of L. pneumophila and pool water physicochemical parameters using mathematical predictive models. The presence of L. pneumophila was detected in six pool samples. Five positive samples were found in the water of indoor hot tubs filled with fresh water, and one positive sample in an outdoor recreational saltwater pool. A predictive mathematical model showed the simultaneous influence of chemical parameters dominated by the temperature in saltwater and freshwater pools, as well as the significant influence of free residual chlorine and trihalomethanes. Our results pointed out that keeping all physicochemical parameters in perfect harmony is necessary to reach the best disinfection procedure and to avoid the optimum conditions for L. pneumophila occurrence.

PONAŠANJE U TRANSPORTU, PERCIPIRANO ISKUSTVO I UPORABA PAMETNE TEHNOLOGIJE POSLJETITELJA TURISTIČKIH DESTINACIJA

With the purpose of establishing differences in behaviour of tourist destination visitors this paper aims to identify their habits, attitudes and activities with regard to transport modalities used on a daily basis, during the trip to the destination, and while staying in the destination, highlighting the aspect of smart technology usage. The results of this study are part of a more extensive research on the behaviour of tourist destination visitors, conducted as part of the Project Cekom – Competence Center for Smart Cities, whereby the research tools and methods were built on the ETIS (European Tourism Indicators System) methodology. Approximately seven hundred visitors of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, which was taken as a case study, were included in the research. The study showed that accessibility was one of the key factors in destination choice for the respondents, and that their everyday transport behaviour patterns differ somewhat from their behaviour pattern when travelling and vacationing. Statistically significant differences were determined in the perceived experience of different groups of destination visitors’, as well as in the frequency of use of smart technologies among groups of visitors with different transport behaviour. One of the research limitations with regard to generalization of conclusions is research focus on a specific destination area, as well as the pre-defined structure of the research sample, which is in line with the requirements of the funding EU project. Differences in transportation behaviour among groups of respondents in general, and in relation to the use of smart technologies, should be verified on a larger sample, in other destination areas. Acknowledging the behavioural aspects, i.e. the differences in the transport behaviour and smart technologies usage has social and practical implications for destinations, in the context of the changed dynamics in the relationships and roles of stakeholders on the tourism market.

Social distance and the Roma: intra-ethnic and regional differences

The Roma are the national minority that experiences the highest level of social distance in Croatia. With aim of better understanding the social structure of the parts of Croatia’s that are inhabited by Roma, the level of social distance between Roma and selected groups was investigated using the classic Bogardus scale performed on a sample of 203 members of the Roma community from Međimurje County, the City of Zagreb, and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. The results of the research indicate significant differences in the level of social distance among different sub-ethnic Roma groups in Croatia. There are large regional differences in the level of social distance of Roma living in different parts of Croatia. A significant level of mutual social distance was also observed between the two large subethnic Roma groups in Croatia, the Bayash Roma and Roma who speak the standard Romani language. Great variations were also noted in social distance towards the majority ethnic group in the Republic of Croatia: Croats.

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with maedi visna virus in sheep population in southwestern Croatia

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to detect the presence of maedi visna virus (MVV) infections in sheep in three counties in southwestern Croatia: Istria County, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and Lika-Senj County, and to estimate the influence of geographical location, breed, age and gender as risk factors on the prevalence rate. A total of 460 randomly selected sheep were tested using a commercially available ID Screen® MVV/CAEV Indirect screening test, VISNAS-5P (ID.VET, Grabels France) for detection of antibodies against the Maedi-Visna virus. The prevalence rate for the entire population was 10.00 % (95 % 7.26 - 12.74 %), The highest seroprevalence of MVV was found in Istria County (19.02%, CI 95% 13.35 –24.70%), followed by Lika-Senj County (5.43 %, CI 95 % 2.17- 8.70) and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (1.07 %, CI 95 % -1.03 – 3.17) (P<0.01). When comparing the seroprevalence among breeds, statistically significant differences were observed. The largest number of positive sheep was found in the following breeds: Istrian Pramenka (22.97%, CI 95% 13.39 - 32.55%), Jezersko-Solcava sheep (23.53%, CI 95% 11.89 - 35.17%%), Pramenka (13.16%, CI 95% 2.41 - 23.91%) and Lika sheep (9.78%, CI 95% 3.71- 15.85%). Prevalence rates in other examined breeds (Krk sheep, Pag sheep and Romanov sheep) were lower than 2 % (P<0.01). No statistically significant differences in seroprevalence between sex and age were found. According to risk estimation, the main risk factors were found to be geographical location and breed. In Istria County, seroprevalence was 4.77 ( CI 95 % 2.67 – 8.54) higher than in other examined areas (OR = 5.66, CI 95 % 2.97-10.79) (P<0.01). As for breeds, significant differences were observed between Jezersko-Solcava sheep and Lika sheep (OR = 2.84, CI 95% 1.13-7.14) and Istrian Pramenka in relation to Pag sheep (OR 22.51,, CI 95% 16.99-119.73), Krk sheep (OR 19.53, CI 95% 5.80-108.27), and Lika sheep (OR 2.35, CI 95% 1.17-6.47). This cross-section study indicates the circulation of MVV in this sheep population in Croatia, and represents the first research into the risk factors for MVV in sheep in southwestern Croatia.

Analysis of the Current Maintenance Management Process in School Buildings: Study Area of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Republic of Croatia

Due to their educational purpose, impact on users and quality of education, school buildings are vital institutions in the community, and their adequate maintenance should be mandatory. Studies conducted around the world point to specific inadequacies that occur in the school maintenance segment, however studies that examine the entire maintenance management process in detail are rare. With such studies, it is possible to observe all components of maintenance and its management in the observed buildings, it is possible to get a detailed insight into the present inadequacies and problems, and give the best possible answer to them. Observing the territory of the Republic of Croatia, it was noticed that there are no adequate databases on school building maintenance. Given all the above, this paper aims to establish a methodological framework and analyze the entire maintenance management process in Croatian schools to detect potential inadequacies, reveal problems, and identify areas for action to improve maintenance performance and carry out maintenance more efficiently. The current maintenance management process of elementary school buildings in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Republic of Croatia, was examined based on the developed methodological framework. Data on the management process were collected through a questionnaire survey among school principals. The questionnaire was compiled based on an extensive literature review. Maintenance performance through management functions was investigated, namely: maintenance planning, maintenance organization, maintenance directing, and maintenance controlling. Important management factors within each of the mentioned functions were observed. The data analysis revealed specific inadequacies and problems in the maintenance process, and it was shown that maintenance management is not entirely effective. Recommendations were given to improve the current situation. In this way, it is possible to quickly and easily examine the entire management process and identify measures that need to be introduced in schools to improve their business in the maintenance segment. The developed methodological framework can be applied to schools from other areas as well as to other types of buildings.

Preliminary Design of a Ship for Waste Sorting from Croatian Islands

In the Environmental Protection Strategy of the Republic of Croatia, waste management is defined as a national priority, and the vision is a landfill-free concept. The backbones are recycling centers with sorting plants where separately collected waste will be prepared for recycling. Concept of sustainable development is a key determinant of the development of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (PGKC), and the fact that permanent disposal of waste of any kind will not be possible on the islands is particularly important for this County. Mixed municipal waste generated in PGKC should be first sorted at the local transshipment station on the island, and then transported by road to the county center for waste management, which is an expensive and complex process. Given that sea transport is known to be the cheapest, one possible solution would be to place a waste sorting plant on a suitable ship which would collect waste by sailing around the island, thus avoiding the need for each island to have its own sorting plant. The paper presents a preliminary design of a ship for sorting waste collected from the large islands of PGKC. The mission requirements of the ship were elaborated initially, and then a basic design of the ship was made, accompanied by the corresponding naval architecture calculations, general arrangement plan and outline specification.

Postizanje ekonomske održivosti eko-označavanjem: Studija slučaja hrvatskog maslinovog ulja i stranih potrošača

Economic sustainability is often the first to be achieved in small-scale production such as olive growing and olive oil production in Croatia. Tourists occupy an important market for Croatian olive oil in terms of olive oil sales at destinations. To achieve economic sustainability, it is necessary to research the international market of olive oil, and by extension, it is necessary to explore the behaviour, perceptions, and preferences of consumers. Therefore, in this study, field research was conducted on a sample of foreign visitors during their stay at the destination, Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia. A significant share of respondents sampled bought olive oil during their stay in Croatia, and the predictor variables for having done so were: extrinsic attribute eco-label on the olive oil bottle and positive perceptions toward characteristics of Croatian olive oil. On the other hand, the frequency of consumption was affected by intrinsic attributes such as olive oil taste, category, and country of origin. Running PCA analysis, three major components were identified: 1) intrinsic characteristic, 2) extrinsic characteristic, 3) price. These components were used for the purpose of market segmentation by applying a two-step cluster analysis. A total of four clusters were identified: 1) “The experts”, 2) “Indifferent consumers”, 3) “Price sensitive” and 4) “The gourmands”. For the sake of developing sustainable business of Croatian olive oil, producers shall find clusters “The experts” and “Price sensitive” to be most suitable. In addition, further efforts to increase the production of eco-certified olive oil should be taken.

Occurrence of P. aeruginosa in Water Intended for Human Consumption and in Swimming Pool Water

Considering the fact that water is a basic need of every living being, it is important to ensure its safety. In this work, the data on the presence of the opportunistic pathogen P. aeruginosa in drinking water (n = 4171) as well as in pool water (n = 5059) in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in Croatia in the five-year period (2016–2020) were analysed. In addition, the national criteria were compared with those of neighboring countries and worldwide. The proportion of P. aeruginosa-positive samples was similar for drinking water (3.9%) and pool water (4.6%). The prevalence of this bacterium was most pronounced in the warmer season. P. aeruginosa-positive drinking water samples were mostly collected during building commissioning, while pool samples were from entertainment and spa/hydromassage pools. Outdoor pools showed a higher percentage of positive samples than indoor pools, as well as the pools filled with freshwater rather than seawater. The highest P. aeruginosa load was found in rehabilitation pools. Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro are countries that have included P. aeruginosa in their national regulations as an indicator of the safety of water for human consumption as well as for bottled water, while Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have limited this requirement to bottled water only. In the case of swimming pool water, this parameter is mandatory in all countries considered in this study.

Ten years of experience of mobile palliative care teams of the Community Health Center of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County - Successes and challenges

The International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC) is an online, open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes original articles in the field of integrated care on a continuous basis.IJIC has an Impact Factor of 5.120 (2020 JCR, received in June 2021)

Greening the Blue Economy as an Incentive to Sustainable Development of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County

Blue development and blue economy are relatively new terms, although blue economy has been developing for centuries. Its potential on European, Croatian or regional level is huge. New researches point out that the Blue Economy impact will double in next ten years. Although present in theory since 1990ties, blue economy in last few years as a part of the answer on the global challenges, has been followed by the aspects of Green Development, Green Economy Green Growth as synonyms for desirable and necessary transition towards sustainability. The definition of Green Economy in perspective of long-term sustainability, environment protection and reduced use of natural resources is defined as well. Recognizing the importance of blue-green economy for the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (PGKC) development, the authors describe the potentials and possibilities for development of the region, as well as analyse natural and other preconditions and point out the reached level of blue-green economy innovative sectors. The purpose of this research is to explain the importance of coastal area as a basic determinant for the blue-green economy as well as to analyze the development level of the blue-green economy in European Union, Croatia and PGKC. This paper determined the spatial, geographical, technical-technological and economical potential of PGKC, defined the regional advantages, peculiarities and limits of the blue-green economy implementation in PGKC and set the recommendations for the balanced development and maximal use of extensive regional potential.