Transport system as an element of sustainable economic growth in the tourist region

Figures in table 1 point out another well-known fact, which represents one of the most
important EU traffic problems-the disproportion of road transport share in intraeuropean
goods flows (Germany 62,4 per cent, France 66,0 per cent, Italy 84,23 per cent).

The share of other transport branches is relatively small because there are no natural
conditions for certain traffic solutions (for instance in Italy inland waterways) or because of
ineffective transport policy that should stimulate for economy and society optimal transport
modes of cargo (for instance railways, inland waterways or pipelines).

From the table 1 it could be deducted that the structure of transport in Croatia is more
convenient. Unfortunately, data for other transitional countries were not available and a
comparison of Croatian with similar economies was not possible. Figures concerning Croatia
should not be a reason for great satisfaction, for it is well known that Croatian transport
system is below European quality standards. Apparently, such characteristics of transport
satisfy a modest volume of production, but a process of modernization is already being
undertaken with the aim to be in harmonization with development of economic activities.

In the field of passengers transport the situation is very similar to those in goods
transport although some differences could be noticed.

Table 2 Volumes and Structure of Passengers Transport in some European Countries in 1997.
(in mlrd pkm)

Source: Prijevoz, skladistenje i veze u 1998. Drzavni zavod za Statistiku, Zagreb, 1999,p.l07.

The similarity in transport volume of goods and passengers flows can be seen in the
fact that most of traffic is linked to road. Passenger car is considered a vehicle without
substitute in organisation of everyday activities and many transfers on longer distances (for
example excursions and tourist journeys) are organised by car or bus. Urban transport is
generally performed by buses and only in large cities they are in a position to share this role
with some system of railway or electric transport system.

The possibility to influence upon the role of road transport in passengers flows is
limited, because a car has not an alternative neither among road vehicles nor among other
transportation means. The substitution of other modes of road passengers’ transport seeks
extreme organisational effort and investments from the subjects of transport policy on
national and local level.

In Croatia the structure of passengers transport is in accordance with the structure in
other European countries (for which data were available). Such situation leads to a conclusion
that in front of them a serious task arises- how to transfer a part of transport volume that is
actually performed by road transport to other transport branches, specially railways which is
at disposal in all counties and almost all routes as well as roads.

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