Minister Mihael Zmajlovic underscored that by developing the infrastructure for visitors at national and nature parks Croatia was setting conditions for a greater number of guests, which in the end would mostly benefit the local community.
"Our strategy is to make use of protected areas through sustainable development which doesn't threaten nature and which facilitates development of a wider region. We are investing in our parks more than in past decades and using European Union funds to do so," Zmajlovic said.
The value of the project to construct the new centre is HRK 31 million and the EU will contribute HRK 29.6 million as part of the Regional Competitiveness Operational Programme 2007-2013.
The remainder of the funds has been secured by the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency, the North Velebit National Park and the ministry.
A public tender for subcontractors should be advertised soon so that construction can begin around the middle of the year and be completed by late 2016.
The park's director, Mirjana Javor, underscored that the aim of the project was to build something modern and attractive that will attract visitors to the park and its environs, where visitors will be able to find information about the climate, eco-systems, the cultural heritage, the flora and fauna, and geological specifics in the park and in particular its caves.