3.6. 2019.
Partners from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia gathered at the closing conference, 6th Steering Committee meeting and 8th thematic meeting. The meeting took place in Litija, Slovenia on 27–29 May 2019 and was hosted by the Development Centre of the Heart of Slovenia.
At the closing conference, which took place on 28 May 2019, we presented the 30-month project INSiGHTS – Integrated Slow, Green and Healthy Tourism Strategies – which started on January 1, 2017, and ends in June 2019. The purpose of the project is to promote the sustainable use of natural resources and cultural heritage with the goal of developing sustainable and green tourism. 13 partners from the countries of Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Slovenia have developed tourist strategies that will not only make the regions more attractive to tourists but will also protect its natural and cultural resources. Within the framework of the final conference, three round tables were held on the results of the project. Experts from the field of tourism have presented examples of good practices and key development guidelines within individual thematic sections.
At the roundtable discussions and good practice presentations, it was concluded that the Danube regions have outstanding natural and cultural resources that need to be protected. They also have great potential to become attractive destinations for the fast-growing trend of slow, green and healthy tourism. 13 partners from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Slovenia have been linked to find the right solutions to make the regions more attractive to tourists. Within the framework of the INSiGHTS project, the creation of eight tourism strategies for green and healthy tourism to the destinations helped to make the region not only more attractive to tourists but also to protect its natural and cultural resources. The tourism strategies for green and healthy tourism are adaptable throughout the Danube Region.
15.5. 2019.
5th INSiGHTS project newsletter has just been published!
It contains an overview of the most important project activities that have been conducted on the project and partner level in the last implementation period. You can download the Newsletter in pdf version.
15.5. 2019.
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13.5. 2019.
Given the fact that the end of the project implementation is approaching, LAG “Central Istria” held a final press conference to present the results of the INSiGHTS project – Integrated Slow, Green and Healthy Tourism Strategies:
- LAG “Central Istria” with the Department of Tourism of the Istrian Region as associated partner on the project together with the Tourist Boards of Central Istria, Motovun and Žminj joined together for the development of the Development Strategy 2018-2025, which will be the basis of further targeted and coordinated tourist development based on sustainability principles.
- As a novelty in this area, an interactive tourist map was also developed and is available at www.authentic-istria.com . The interactive map gathers numerous facilities near bike & trail routes in the area – such as restaurants, taverns, wineries, cultural sights, accommodation, etc. so that all visitors can plan their stay according to their own interests. The map can be updated with new content which can be done through a simple form available on the site. As a supplement to the interactive map, and as part of the preparation for the upcoming tourist season, printed maps with additional content are also already available at the tourist boards offices.
- In order to make it easier to find the content on the field, the routes are also marked with new information boards and signposts. So, in the area of each tourist board, there is one informative table showing all the trails and additional contents on them (cultural, natural, eno-gastronomic) while there is also signalization on the trails to show where a a certain tourist content can be found. QR codes have also been included in order to make it easier for the visitors to gather additional information.
It is important to emphasize that the interactive and printed maps as well as the marks on the field were all made in cooperation with external experts from the Istrian Development Tourist Agency (IRTA) – Bike & Outdoor department in order to match and complement the existing and well-established bike & trail system so that users can easily access all the information they need.
10.5. 2019.
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25.4. 2019.
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3.4. 2019.
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1.4. 2019.
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28.3. 2019.
LAG “Central Istria” is continuing its work on the promotion and further development of interactive map authentic-istria.com. Most recently, LAG “Central Istria” presented the map to renters and providers of tourist services from the area of the Žminj municipality, with the aim of including as many tourist facilities as possible at the very beginning of the new tourist season.
The map was created in printed and digital form, within the INSiGHTS project, funded by the Interreg Danube Program. In addition to cycling and hiking trails in the area of central Istria, Motovun and Žminj it also promotes all the nearby touristic products; bike and bed accommodation, farms, wineries, taverns and restaurants, natural beauties, cultural and other activites. The presentation was aimed at showing few simple steps which citizens can follow to include additional touristic content that they feel should be included in the map.
26.3. 2019.
The University of Thessaly, was the host of the 5th International Partner Meeting within the “European Network for Economic Cohesion and Solidarity in Rural Areas” ( ENSURE) project that was held in Volos, Greece, from 18th to 20th of March, 2019.
The event, financed by the “Europe for Citizens” Program of the European Union, gathered International participants from 13 EU countries such as Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Spain.
This international partner meeting was devoted to rural development and how to impact young people. Experts in agriculture, plant protection, organic farming and experts from the greenhouse sector, shared their knowledge with the more than 200 students of the University of Thessaly that attended to the scientific conference and presented the opportunities EU funds offer for youth and development of agriculture.
During a three-day program, partners had time to discuss, to interact, to network among each other and share experiences and opinions on rural development and on EU policies at local level.
Partners participated to the workshop arranged to master the ENSURE final publication, talked about planning future cooperation and discussed the details of the final event of the project in Slovenia.
Partners also had the chance to visit the Brickworks museum at Tsalapatas complex in Volos, to visit the facilities of the School of Agricultural Sciences in Volos, to visit the traditional village of Makrinitsa at Pelion Mountain and taste local traditional dishes. Also they had a cultural tour at the sight-seeing along the coastal side of the city of Volos and finally, a study visit to the Greenhouse facilities of the flourishing company of “Gardenia Growers Group”, to see from close how greenhouses and group work can be used as a tool for rural development.
