SOCIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE CURRENT STATUS AND NATURE CONSERVATION IN RELATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN THE CADASTRAL OF TATRANSKA LOMNICA Michaela Lizbetinova Mgr. Zakladna skola s Materskou skolou Alexandra Vagaca Sturova 12, Detva, Slovakia e-mail: misik.lizb@gmail.com UDK: 502.172:911.3:33 COBISS: 1.02 Abstract Sociological survey of the current status and nature conservation in relation to the development of tourism in the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica The main part of the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica belongs to the Tatra National Park. The activity of humans is limited there because nature is protected by law. This is the first time there will be building of new accommodation and sport facilities, especially after November 2004 when was severe wind damage in the Tatra region. In this thesis we focus on the opinions of respondents on the current state of the environment and its protection in the municipalities of the cadastral Tatranska Lomnica in relation to the present tourist business development. Key words Tatranska Lomnica cadastral, the Tatra National Park, regional development, opinions of respondents Uredništvo je članek prejelo 10.9.2014 1. Introduction The current structure of land in the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica depends on a combination of natural conditions and human activity. The cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica is located in part of northern Slovakia. It is a part of the Presov Region and district of Poprad. There are Tatranska Lesna, Tatranska Lomnica, Tatranské Matliare, Kezmarské Zl'aby and Tatranska Kotlina villages in Tatranska Lomnica cadastral. The main part of the region belongs to the Tatra National Park. The activity of humans is limited there because nature is protected by law. This is the first time there will be building of new accommodation and sport facilities, especially after November 2004 when was severe wind damage in the Tatra region. Many people consider this activity illegal but on the other side there is also a positive response to regional development. The main aim of the research was to ascertain the opinions of respondents on the current state of the environment and its protection in the municipalities of the cadastral Tatranska Lomnica in relation to the present tourist business development. The pattern of respondents consists of living people (home residents) in the region and also the people who were there for just a short period (visitors). We were interested in whether or not the respondents agree with the current building of new accommodation and sport facilities and where they can see positive or negative sides of tourist business development. 2. Methods of research The survey was implemented by questionnaire method. The questionnaire consists of ten questions. Majority of questions were open. The questions No.3., No.8., No.9. and No. 10. were semi-closed. Our selection of the respondents was pointing. We asked 30 respondents living in Tatranska Lomnica cadastral and 70 respondents who was visiting the region temporary. We were giving questionnaire to people travelling in Tatranska Lesna, Tatranska Lomnica, Tatranské Matliare, Kezmarské Zl'aby, Tatranska Kotlina and on tourist path in Dolina Kezmarskej Bielej vody, in Mala Studena dolina, in Velka Studena dolina and in Dolina siedmych pramenov. The research was running from August 2013 to January 2014. The results of the research are presented in absolute frequency and relative frequency, using tables, graphs and numerical characteristics. Using a questionnaire is helpfull to research the potential of the lanscape and its utilization in the regional development of the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica on examples of landscape structure changes. 3. The analysis and interpretation of results The questionnaire was completed using one hundred respondents. All questionnaires were returned to us completed (100% return). Three participants refused to complete a questionnaire. We replaced them with new ones. Total results are presented in absolute frequency in tables. Question No. 1.: Majority of the land in the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica is part of the Tatra National Park. Do you consider the development of tourist business in this area important? Should it be developed? (Tab. 1) Tab. 1: Statement Number of respondents together home residents visitors Yes 71 21 50 No 26 8 18 I don't know 3 1 2 Question No. 2.: Do you think that the development of tourism and other activities of humans in a natural environment are in accordance with the law of nature conservation in this area? (Tab. 2) Tab. 2: Statement Number of respondents together home residents visitors Yes 24 6 18 No 71 24 47 I don't know 5 0 5 Question No.3.: Do you think is there environmental degradation in the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica? (Tab. 3) Tab. 3. Statement Number of respondents together home residents visitors Yes 65 21 44 No 35 9 26 I don't know 0 0 0 If you say yes, write the dameged location or activity which impairs the natural environment. 58 from 65 respondents who said yes, supplemented their reply. They reported an environmental degradation like garbage pollution, shortening of hiking trails, dog faeces, contaminated areas of garbage nearby accommodation, fumes from cars, construction of new accommodation, too many tourists on hiking trails, scaring wild animals, damage of vegetation by forest work. Some respondents reported a specific area of environmental damage by the construction of ski trails from Skalnaté pleso to Tatranska Lomnica. Several respondents indicated that there is a devastation of the natural environment outside the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica (damaged location in the area of Strbske Pleso). Question No.4.: Do you agree with expanding the construction of new accommodation facilities in Tatranska Lomnica? (Tab. 4) Michaela Lizbetinova: Sociological survey of the current status and nature conservation ... Tab. 4: Number of respondents Statement together home residents visitors Yes 37 11 26 No 61 19 42 I don't know 2 0 2 Question No. 5.: Do you agree with the planned new cableway from Hrebienok territory to Skalnate pleso (it would be situated in the territory of 4th and 5th degree of nature conservation? (Tab. 5) Tab. 5: Statement Number of respondents together home residents visitors Yes 29 7 22 No 71 23 48 I don't know 0 0 0 Question No. 6.: Do you agree with opening new tourist paths in the cadastral Tatranska Lomnica? (for example a new tourist path to Baranie sedlo which is between Mala Studena dolina and Dolina Zeleneho plesa)? (Tab. 6) Tab. 6: Number of respondents Statement together home residents visitors Yes 65 15 50 No 34 14 20 I don't know 1 1 0 Question No. 7.: There are areas with 4th and 5th degrees of nature protection in the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica. Do you agree with building new sports facilities in this area? (Tab. 7) Tab. 7: Statement Number of respondents together home residents visitors Yes 21 6 15 No 71 24 47 I don't know 8 0 8 Question No. 8.: Circle the activity or write your opinion on human activities that are appropriate to the development of tourism in the region. (Tab. 8, Fig. 1) Tab. 8: Statement Number of respondents together home residents visitors Build more new accommodation facilities 13 3 10 Build more new sport facilities and sports complex 25 5 20 Reconstruct old accommodation 79 27 52 Reconstruct old sport areas 91 29 62 Others 15 3 12 Some respondents added the answers. They would welcome cheaper accommodation and cheaper restaurant services (9 participants), a higher number of catering establishments (4), entertainment areas for children (2) and cinema (1 person). Fig. 1: The opinions of all respondents on the development potential of tourism in region (in absolute frequency). Question No.9.: The number of turists in this region is: (Tab. 9) Tab. 9: Statement Number of respondents together home residents visitors Low 31 4 27 Low just out of high season 24 17 7 High 35 5 30 Just enough 10 4 6 I don't know 0 0 0 Others 0 0 0 Question No. 10.: What are the consequences of tourism for this area of Tatras? (You can select both the positive and negative consequence). You can write examples of positive and negative consequence. (Tab.10) Tab. 10: Consequences of turism Number of respondents together home residents visitors Positive 51 19 32 Negative 46 11 35 I don't know 3 0 3 Others 0 0 0 Some respondents completed their answers (11 respondents). As positive consequence actors reported recreation for turists, financial injection for the region, job opportunities, the possibility of exploring the region, modernization, construction of roads, built recreation center is attractive for foreign turists. The respondents mentioned pollution and devastation of nature as negative consequences. Tab. 11: The review of responses of all respondents to the questions No.1 - No.7 (in absolute frequency and relative frequency). Question Statement absolute frequency relative frequency absolute frequency relative frequency home residents visitors 1. Majority of the land in the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica is part of the Tatra National Park. Do you consider the development of tourist business in this area important? Should it be developed? yes 21 21% 50 50% no 8 8% 18 18% I don't know 1 1% 2 2% 2. Do you think that the development of tourism and other activities of humans in a natural environment are in accordance with the law of nature conservation in this area? yes 6 6% 18 18% no 24 24% 47 47% I don't know 0 0% 5 5% no 24 24% 47 47% I don't know 0 0% 8 8% Tab. 11: The review of responses of all respondents to the questions No.1 - No.7 (in absolute frequency and relative frequency) (continue). 3. Do you think is there environmental degradation in the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica? yes 21 21% 44 44% no 9 9% 26 26% I don't know 0 0% 0 0% 4. Do you agree with expanding the construction of new accommodation facilities in Tatranska Lomnica? yes 11 11% 26 26% no 19 19% 42 42% I don't know 0 0% 2 2% 5. Do you agree with the planned new cableway from Hrebienok territory to Skalnaté pleso (it would be situated in the territory of 4th and 5th degree of nature conservation? yes 7 7% 22 22% no 23 23% 48 48% I don't know 0 0% 0 0% 6. Do you agree with opening new tourist paths in the cadastral Tatranska Lomnica? (for example a new tourist path to Baranie sedlo which is between Mala Studena dolina and Dolina Zeleného plesa)? yes 15 15% 50 50% no 14 14% 20 20% I don't know 1 1% 0 0% 7. There are areas with 4th and 5th degrees of nature protection in the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica. Do you agree with building new sports facilities in this area? yes 6 6% 15 15% 4. Conclusion 71 % of all respondents favour development of tourism in the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica. They see the inflow of finance for the region, the modernization of turism infrastructure and the creation of opportunities for recreation and job oportunity as main positive of development. The respondents realize that the nature of the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica is part of the Tatra National Park and so they can see negative aspects of tourism development, too. Here respondents indicated in particular devastation and pollution of the natural environment by visitors. More than half of respondents (71%) think that there is no respect of the laws of nature protection in tourism developmnet. At the same time 65% of respondents advocated the view that the environment in this region is harmed. The people aware the treasure of nature in the Tatra National Park because majority of respondents disagree with the construction of sports facilities in the area of 4th and 5th degree of nature protection. They disagree with planned cableway from Hrebienok territory to Skalnate pleso. Majority of respondents would like the reconstruction of old accommodation and old sport facilities. Most of respondents disagree with construction of new, especially in Tatranska Lomnica. Approximately half of the respondents believe that the region is visited enough, some respondents think there are many visitors. More than half of respondents (65%) would welcome the opening of new tourist paths. The opinions of home residents and visitors differed only slightly. In our opinion, in question No. 9 (a view on the number of tourists in the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica) the opinion of the home residents is more objective, because they move yearly in the region. References Falt'an, V., Banovsky, M., Jančuška, D., Saksa, M. 2008: Zmeny krajinnej pokryvky upatia Vysokych Tatier po veternej kalamite. Geo-grafika Bratislava, s. 96. Švec, Š. et.al. 1998: Metodologia vied o vychove. IRIS Bratislava, s.304. Hendl, J. 2005: Kvalitativni vyskum. Zakladni metody a aplikace. Portal Praha, s.408. Skutil, M. et.al. 2011: Zaklady pedagogicko-psychologickeho vyskumu pro studenty učitelstvL Portal Praha, s.256. Zakony VI/2013. Poradca s.r.o. Žilina, s.536. SOCIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE CURRENT STATUS AND NATURE CONSERVATION IN RELATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN THE CADASTRAL OF TATRANSKA LOMNICA Summary The Tatra National Park is exceptional. A tourism development can disrupt the sensitive natural environment in this area. Therefore, any intervention to the nature it's needed to rethink. From this perspective, a sociological research, especially the questionnaire method can be used as an auxiliary method in the planning of regional development. 71 % of all respondents favour development of tourism in the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica. They see the inflow of finance for the region, the modernization of turism infrastructure and the creation of opportunities for recreation and job oportunity as main positive of development. The respondents realize that the nature of the cadastral of Tatranska Lomnica is part of the Tatra National Park and so they can see negative aspects of tourism development, too. Here respondents indicated in particular devastation and pollution of the natural environment by visitors. More than half of respondents (71%) think that there is no respect of the laws of nature protection in tourism developmnet. At the same time 65% of respondents advocated the view that the environment in this region is harmed. The people aware the treasure of nature in the Tatra National Park because majority of respondents disagree with the construction of sports facilities in the area of 4th and 5th degree of nature protection. They disagree with planned cableway from Hrebienok territory to Skalnate pleso. Majority of respondents would like the reconstruction of old accommodation and old sport facilities. Most of respondents disagree with construction of new, especially in Tatranska Lomnica. Approximately half of the respondents believe that the region is visited enough, some respondents think there are many visitors. More than half of respondents (65%) would welcome the opening of new tourist paths. The opinions of home residents and visitors differed only slightly.