Classification of Croatian Maritime Regions as a Prerequisite for Applying Regional Development Theories

Croatia’s maritime and coastal area has economic, demographic, and cultural characteristics that differ from those of the continental part of the country. The existing administrative and statistical regionalisation does not adequately reflect actual territorial specificities or the complex functional processes that shape the area. This mismatch reduces the effectiveness of development policies targeting coastal and island areas and hinders the application of regional development theories. This paper analyses the limitations of Croatia’s current NUTS division and explains the importance of establishing functional maritime regions as a prerequisite for improved research, planning, and management of the Adriatic area. Particular attention is given to the limitations of applying regional development principles to Croatia’s coastal area. The methodological approach comprises an analysis of relevant academic literature, a comparison of European models for dividing coastal regions, and the application of regional development theories. The results show that the Adriatic Croatia region does not reflect the actual functional structure of Croatia’s maritime and coastal area and that the current administrative division is inadequate for monitoring development processes. The paper proposes a division into NUTS 3 regions based on the nodal urban centres of Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, and Split as a more suitable framework for regional policy than the existing model. The paper concludes that functional maritime regions could contribute to more effective regional planning, governance, and sustainable development of Croatia’s maritime and coastal area.