Page 278 - Panjek, Aleksander, Jesper Larsson and Luca Mocarelli, eds. 2017. Integrated Peasant Economy in a Comparative Perspective: Alps, Scandinavia and Beyond. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 278
integr ated peasant economy in a compar ative perspective
tourist attraction in itself and a possible source of income from non-agra-
rian activity for the local peasant population. Within the development of
modern cave tourism, the influence on these activities supposedly grew.
The new supply, such as accommodation, infrastructure, food, guiding and
lighting service, was organised for the growing tourist industry.
In this article I have tried to determine whether the population of the
rural areas surrounding the most famous caves of the karst territory had
any benefit from this tourist attraction. Did these activities have any im-
pact on the local economies or were they relevant anyhow for the locals?
In the case of cave tourism, was the local peasant population involved in
the process? We may agree on the latter question, since they were involved
mostly as guides and light providers for the visitors. During the 19th century
this involvement included also other types of supply (selling food and car-
riers). This non-agricultural activity represented integration with the in-
come from the agrarian sector, although it is hardly traceable or evidenced.
Based on available sources, it was not possible to quantify the income from
guiding and to determine the level of its importance, since no data about
the frequency of this occasional type of work, the type and grade of in-
volvement of the local population have been evidenced. An approximate
estimation was made for Postojna cave, when the prices during the 19th cen-
tury considerably changed and a more structured and effective tourism
growth development can be seen.
Nevertheless another activity of the local communities shows that this
practice was not that insignificant. The involvement in the tourism process
was more remarkable during the second half of the 19th century when the
former feudal territories, where also the caves were situated, were designat-
ed to the administration of the local communities. This was also a period of
greater investments in tourist infrastructure in the underground (research
of new cave parts, array of paths, introduction of tickets etc.). It offered an
opportunity to exploit the caves for tourism purposes, which was clear es-
pecially in the Škocjan caves, where the Alpine society acquired the lease of
the caves for several years and paid an annual retribution to the commu-
nity. Both scientific and tourism related development proceeded efficient-
ly. In this case the cooperation resulted in a success involving also the local
inhabitants. In the case of Vilenica Cave other factors influenced the lack of
visitors and a consequently lower involvement of the local population in the
tourism sector. The tenant from 1886 onwards did invest in the array of the
underground, although no information about fees and guiding are appar-
276
tourist attraction in itself and a possible source of income from non-agra-
rian activity for the local peasant population. Within the development of
modern cave tourism, the influence on these activities supposedly grew.
The new supply, such as accommodation, infrastructure, food, guiding and
lighting service, was organised for the growing tourist industry.
In this article I have tried to determine whether the population of the
rural areas surrounding the most famous caves of the karst territory had
any benefit from this tourist attraction. Did these activities have any im-
pact on the local economies or were they relevant anyhow for the locals?
In the case of cave tourism, was the local peasant population involved in
the process? We may agree on the latter question, since they were involved
mostly as guides and light providers for the visitors. During the 19th century
this involvement included also other types of supply (selling food and car-
riers). This non-agricultural activity represented integration with the in-
come from the agrarian sector, although it is hardly traceable or evidenced.
Based on available sources, it was not possible to quantify the income from
guiding and to determine the level of its importance, since no data about
the frequency of this occasional type of work, the type and grade of in-
volvement of the local population have been evidenced. An approximate
estimation was made for Postojna cave, when the prices during the 19th cen-
tury considerably changed and a more structured and effective tourism
growth development can be seen.
Nevertheless another activity of the local communities shows that this
practice was not that insignificant. The involvement in the tourism process
was more remarkable during the second half of the 19th century when the
former feudal territories, where also the caves were situated, were designat-
ed to the administration of the local communities. This was also a period of
greater investments in tourist infrastructure in the underground (research
of new cave parts, array of paths, introduction of tickets etc.). It offered an
opportunity to exploit the caves for tourism purposes, which was clear es-
pecially in the Škocjan caves, where the Alpine society acquired the lease of
the caves for several years and paid an annual retribution to the commu-
nity. Both scientific and tourism related development proceeded efficient-
ly. In this case the cooperation resulted in a success involving also the local
inhabitants. In the case of Vilenica Cave other factors influenced the lack of
visitors and a consequently lower involvement of the local population in the
tourism sector. The tenant from 1886 onwards did invest in the array of the
underground, although no information about fees and guiding are appar-
276
