Tourist guidance for blind and partially sighted persons in Đurovića Cave

By project GREENHEALTH

Published on 17 March 2025

Croatia

Jadranska Hrvatska

Dubrovnik

About this good practice

The Rudjer Boskovic Airport Dubrovnik funded the restoration and clean up the Đurovića Cave, which is situated cca 25 m below the airplane runway. The length of the cave is 156 m and the volume of the cave is 9000 m3. The site has a large number of stalactites and stalagmites and valuable biospeleological and archaeological findings. From the beginning of opening the cave as tourist site, the airport staff led people into the cave. Since 2021 the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Natural Areas of Dubrovnik-Neretva County (PIDNC) staff have taken over the management of the cave (to conserve and/or restore its biodiverse environment) and organised professional guided tours to the site. The cave is now visited by more than 100 visitors each year and it is also accessible for persons with different disabilities. In particular, persons with disability can visit the cave with an assistant and can safely move thanks to a long fence placed along the entire length of the cave. As a part of the DANOVA project (Interreg Danube; partner - Dubrovnik Airport) the tactile guide paths and tactile orientation maps were placed for easier movement of blind/partially sighted passengers at the airport. The renovation of the cave was financed by the internal budget from the Airport Dubrovnik, as well as funds from the project DANOVA and from the National Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund.

Resources needed

A team consisted of ten airport staff-guide (2008 – 2021) and three PIDNC staff-guide (since 2021).
Costs include building of 400 m of tactile guide paths and production of six tactile orientation maps for the Airport Dubrovnik, training of ten Airport staff-guide and three PIDNC staff-guide.

Evidence of success

Many blind/partially sighted passengers found it extremely difficult, and in some cases even impossible to visit the caves. The Đurovića Cave has become a tourist destination including also the people with disabilities. Since 2008 thousands of people have visited the Đurovića Cave.

Potential for learning or transfer

The successful implementation of accessibility initiatives in the Đurovića Cave has made it a popular destination for airport passengers, local inhabitants, mountaineering society, associations, elementary and high schools etc, including persons with disabilities (blind and partially sighted persons). This approach boosts tourism, reduces social isolation, and improves well-being by overcoming architectural and social barriers to nature. This model can serve as an inspiration for other organizations to replicate similar efforts.