Cavtat soon to host the 5th International Rural Tourism Congress
- by croatiaweek
- in Travel
Cavtat
Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development “Klub članova Selo” is preparing the ninth Suncokret – Sunflower Award
At what stage is the digitalisation of Croatian villages, whether the corona crisis was an opportunity for rural tourism or caused losses, how to brand family farms and their activities and what is Croatia’s rural tourism if we compare it with that in neighbouring countries are just some of the topics that will be discussed at the 5th International Rural Tourism Congress.
The congress will be held from 27-30 April and is organised by the Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development “Klub članova Selo”, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU), Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Opatija, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Virovitica University of Applied Sciences and the Balkan Environmental Association.
Dijana Katica – President of the Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development “Klub članova Selo” (Photo credit: Arhiv HUTRR “Klub članova Selo”)
The slogan of the congress is “Rural tourism: quality, sustainability, inclusiveness”, and the main topic “Competitiveness and positioning of rural tourism after the crisis of the tourism sector caused by the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Hotel Croatia Cavtat will host the event, and about three hundred participants are expected to arrive; representatives of ministries, tourist boards, local action groups, family farms and other employees in tourism.
The concept of the 5th International Rural Tourism Congress is really special, because of all European countries, it is organised only in Croatia.
Holding the congress enables a continuous exchange of experiences and knowledge, with the connection of science and profession. The competitiveness of the tourist offer is strengthened by increased awareness and education about the rural tourist destination and thus improves the way and level of service.
A large number of scientists from Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Greece, Italy, Great Britain and Spain will present their experiences and research at the event.
Cavtat hosting the 5th International Rural Tourism Congress (Arhiv HUTRR “Klub članova Selo”)
Four attractive panels will be held, and examples of good practice with special emphasis on EU projects will be presented.
The thematic areas that will be covered by this Congress are: European rural area: yesterday, today, tomorrow, Sustainable development in rural tourism, Crisis management and new technologies in rural tourism, Networking and interest grouping in rural tourism, Digital marketing, branding and STEM in tourism, Formal and non-formal education for rural tourism and Examples of good practice from the public and private sector.
As part of the 5th International Rural Tourism Congress, the ninth edition of the already traditional event will be held – the Croatian Rural Tourism Awards – Sunflower Award.
Suncokret – Sunflower Awards will take place (Photo credit: Arhiv HUTRR “Klub članova Selo”)
Each year they evaluate at the national level: tourist village farms (family), traditional (rural) homesteads, traditional (rural) gastronomy, wine tourism, craft tourism, active tourist facilities in rural areas, rural tourism projects and projects / holders of protected and marketing labels.
It is very gratifying that 138 projects from 19 counties have been registered this year, so it will not be an easy task for the project evaluation commission.
Previous winners of the award (Photo credit: Arhiv HUTRR “Klub članova Selo”)
An unavoidable part of the event will be a visit to the beautiful rural parts of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, especially Konavle and a tour of the most famous and picturesque city on the Adriatic – Dubrovnik.
More information is available on the congress website – https://kongres.klubselo.hr/
