The need has arisen to implement a circular economic model that enables economic growth and prosperity in accordance with environmental protection and sustainable development because of the current unsustainable linear means of production in the economy. The aim of this paper is to determine the application of the circular economy concept in member countries of the European Union from 2008 to 2016. The purpose is to analyse whether economic development measured by GDP (gross domestic product) affects the analysed circular economy variables. Based on the hypotheses set, an econometric model was formed where GDP was identified as an independent variable, while the dependent variables were the production of municipal waste per capita, the recycling rate of municipal waste, the recycling rate of packaging waste by type of packaging, the recycling of bio-waste, and the recycling rate of e-waste. The first part of the statistical analysis conducted using the Stata software package shows the Pearson correlation between the abovestated variables, while the second part explores the univariate regression model. The results point towards the conclusion that the application of the circular economy concept can ensure economic growth and GDP growth while reducing the use of natural resources and ensuring greater environmental protection.

Cultural heritage is a particularly significant resource in creating tourism. When a local community recognizes its cultural heritage (small historic towns, buildings, castles, and forts), it is possible to create new value to meet the needs of tourists, using the principles of a circular economy. Adapting, reusing and restoring heritage sites can contribute to the revitalization of the local economy by creating jobs (increased employment), increased spending, economic development, etc. Adaptive reuse, as one of the principles of a circular economy, represents how the circular economy can pave the way to create new tourism products. The three basic principles of sustainable waste management are reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R). This paper tackles the reuse principle by analyzing case studies involving the application of a circular economy to cultural heritage in the Kvarner tourism destination (Croatia) in the context of reusing resources to create a sustainable destination. The goal is to determine to what extent the reuse of heritage sites makes them useful for the local community, and for tourists to stay in the destination. The research showed positive examples in the Kvarner tourism destination, primarily of a cultural tourism nature and that were achieved in the last ten years; however, the conclusion is that this is still insufficient. By aggregating knowledge and research results, the paper emphasizes the importance of applying the concept of the circular economy to cultural heritage in tourism destinations, with special emphasis on the role of all stakeholders in creating sustainable heritage tourism (local self-government, destination management, local population, and entrepreneurship).

Music is an important element of a destination’s integrated tourism product, especially in rural regions. This fact raises a variety of issues, in particular with regard to the tourism management of rural destinations. Answers are sought to questions on how music can be valorised to help create a distinctive tourism product, making it necessary to analyse the current state of the music offering before objectives can be set and concrete solutions, devised, to accomplish them. This paper explores the music offering of the rural regions of eastern Croatia and presents the results of a survey of the attitudes of destination managers (managers of tourist boards) in rural regions of eastern Croatia, with special emphasis on traditional music that is increasingly present and contributes to creating distinctive rural destinations (the valorisation of sound and music in the offering should also enhance the inclusion of music in promotion). The studied rural destinations of eastern Croatia are not developed in terms of tourism and their tourist accommodation capacities are very small. Music offering management, together with the valorisation and preservation of traditional values, could help them enhance their distinctiveness in the tourism market.

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.

This study contributes to literature concerning memory and dark tourism by providing empirical evidence about the link between commemorations and the news media in a post-conflict and tourism-dependent Croatia, as well as the specific media-constructed social reality. The main focus lies on the types and media-based descriptions of commemorations. A total of 371 news articles were collected and then reviewed using a set of items grounded in theory. In addition to content, a chi-square automatic interaction detection analysis was also employed. Four commemoration types with significant peculiarities (site category, young and senior generation of visitors, and mass visits) are observed in a two-branch model. Other general characteristics of commemorations were also identified. The dominant commemoration type in Croatia are ‘memorial services’, (massively) visited by seniors. Young people rarely attend commemorations. If so, they mostly attend ‘parades, marches, processions’ taking place at authentic sites. The findings provide theoretical and practical implications for stakeholders.

Purpose – This paper investigates ways how to innovate logistics processes in the hospitality industry aimed at achieving spatio - temporal transformation of resource base into competitive advantages based on innovation and quality. Economic goal of modern logistics based on knowledge is to provide a unique experience for tourists at minimum cost in order to multiply operational profit. Operational profit has to be largely reinvested in the new strategic orientations as well as in new intangible resources generating excellence and recognizability of hospitality services. Design – The paper defines current and future ways of logistics processes optimization as well as strategies in the hospitality industry aimed at generating excellence both for tourists and sustainable development. It analyzes the role of knowledge management in the reconception of logistics processes based on the new strategic orientations in synergy with other business processes involved in the transformation of a classical company into a learning organization Methodology –Recent scientific literature is critically analyzed in the paper (hospitality logistics systems, new strategic orientations) and practical examples (various forms of Croatian hotels and hospitality companies) and determines the views of the authors referring to the new qualitative trends of modern logistics and sustainable value chain and excellence as a prerequisite for the development of a hospitality company. The causal loop model is used for generating significance of new strategic orientations aimed at innovation of logistics processes in the hospitality industry in a dynamic environment. Findings – The paper emphasizes the importance of intangible resources and new strategic orientations in new qualitative trends used in logistics management processes. It presents a starting point for the future research works to solve specific problem situations in practice. Originality – The paper suggests and provides arguments for concrete proposals applied in optimization of logistics processes based on knowledge and information (risk management in generating business decisions) and new strategic orientations and it also raises questions to anticipate future changes in the development of logistics processes and strategies.