Programme

PROGRAMME

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

 15.00 – 19.00 Arrival and registration of participants (Hotel Padova, Congress Centre)

       19.00 – 19.30 Gathering of participants (Hotel Padova, Congress Centre)

       19.30 – 21.00 Ceremonial opening and Best Young Farmer 2026 Award ceremony

                              (Hotel Padova pool area – in case of rain: Hotel Padova Congress Centre)

• Opening remarks:
  • Dijana Katica, President of the Organising Committee and the Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development Klub članova Selo
  • Nikola Grgurić, Mayor of the City of Rab
  • Ivica Lukanović, Prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
  • Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board
  • Dubravka Šuica, European Commission Commissioner for the Mediterranean (address via video message)
  • Monika Udovičić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia
  • David Vlajčić, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

• Ceremonial opening

•           David Vlajčić, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

• Ceremonial Best Young Farmer 2026 Award Ceremony:
  • Gordana Galović Dupan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Jutarnji list
  • Sunčana Glavak, Member of the European Parliament and project ambassador.

• Cultural and artistic programme
  • Parmachy Family Trio
  • Folklorno društvo „Rapski tanac“
  • Klapa Rab
  • Rab Crossbow Society

• Hosts: Marijana Protulipac Tomičić and Slaven Klobučar

        20.30 – 22.00 Reception

Thursday, 7 May 2026

         9.00 – 9.15 Gathering of participants and brief opening remarks (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

• Dora Smolčić Jurdana, President of the Programme Committee and Head of the Department of Tourism and Marketing, Faculty of Management in Tourism and Hospitality
• Agne Vaitkuviene, President of the European Federation of Rural Tourism Rural Tour
• Anja Fortuna, Public Policy Analyst for Rural Pact.

          9.15 – 11.00 Opening lectures (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

• Mobility Challenges in Tourism Amid Global Crises – Maja Bakran Marcich, Deputy Director-General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission
• Standards of the Global Council for Sustainable Tourism – a Guide to Sustainable and Regenerative Rural Tourism – Luigi Cabrini, President of the Global Council for Sustainable Tourism (Global Sustainable Tourism Council)
• Unique Experiences of Croatian Rural Tourism – Saša Popovac, Director of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Tourism Experience Sector, Croatian National Tourist Board
• From Authenticity to Brand – how rural tourism is shaping Croatia's new image – Božo Skoko, leading Croatian expert in national branding
• Comprehensive Development of Rural Kvarner – from Green Vision to the European Gastronomic Region – Ivica Lukanović, Prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
• Rural Tourism as a Foundation of Sustainable Tourism – global roadmaps for local progress – Nedim Jašić, Senior Project Specialist at the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism).

     11.00 – 11.30 In Conversation: How European Policies Can Transform Our Village 

                            (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

• Moderator: Božo Skoko, Vice-Rector of Algebra Bernays                     
• Guests:
  • Marko Vešligaj, Member of the European Parliament
  • Aleksandar Mešić, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb
  • Tomislav Vinković, Dean of the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences, University of Osijek.

1. – 12.00 Refreshment break 

    12.00 – 12.30 Ministerial Dialogue: Cross-Sectoral Collaboration to Strengthen Rural Tourism

                           (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

• Moderator: Oliver Kesar, Department of Tourism, Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb
• Guests:
  • Zdravko Tušek, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
  • Monika Udovičić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia
  • Zrinka Raguž, State Secretary at the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds.

12.30 – 13.30 Panel Discussion: Young Farmers for a Sustainable Future of the Countryside and Authenticity   

                       of Rural Tourism (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

• Presenter and moderator: Tihana Sudarić, Head of the Department of Bioeconomy and Rural Development, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences, Osijek
• Participants:
  • Sunčana Glavak, Member of the European Parliament and award organiser
  • Mladen Fruk, Director of the Directorate for Professional Support to Agricultural Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
  • Best Young Farmer 2026.
  • Ivan Đurišević, owner of family farm Family Ranch Reza & Company, recipient of the SUNCOKRET Rural Tourism Award 2025.
  • Lidija Maurović Košćak, Head of the Project Department at the Croatian Agency for Agriculture and Food

 13.30 – 14.00 Local Policy Dialogue: Synergy of Local and Regional Self-Government in

                        Creating Sustainable Rural Destinations (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

• Moderator: Rikard Bakan, Vice-Dean of the University of Applied Sciences in Virovitica
• Guests:
  • Ivica Lukanović, Prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
  • Matija Posavec, Prefect of Međimurje County
  • Nikola Grgurić, Mayor of the City of Rab
  • Renata Banožić, Mayor of the City of Ilok.

14.00 – 15.00  Working lunch

15.15 – 15.35 Special talk: Spatial identity as the foundation of sustainable tourism (Hotel Padova,

                       Arba Congress Hall)

• Moderator: Damir Krešić, Director of the Institute for Tourism                    
• Guest: Academician Nikola Bašić, President of the Scientific Council for Tourism and Space of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

15.35 – 16.15 Panel Discussion: Rural Tourism Stars – Transformation of Rural oga Space

                       (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

• Presenter and moderator: Damir Krešić, Director of the Institute for Tourism
• Participants:
  • Academician Nikola Bašić, President of the Scientific Council for Tourism and Space of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Art

• Goran Morović, owner of hotel Villa Nai 3.3, Žman, Dugi otok
• Nina Dumančić, director of hotel Materra, Čepin
• Ana Blatančić, director of Terra Slavonica and manager of Janković Castle, Suhopolje
• Jasna Hoffmann, director of the Bećarac Museum, Pleternica.

15.15 – 17.30 Scientific and Professional Perspectives – Paper Presentations (Hotel Padova,

                       Eufemija and Kalifront Halls)

16.15 – 17.30 Project Presentations in the Field of Rural Development and Rural Tourism

                       (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

17.50 – 18.00 Gathering of participants (Hotel Padova Reception)

18.00 – 18.15 Joint departure of participants with tourist guides to the promenade in front of

                       Hotel Valamar Padova, then by water taxi organised by the Rab Barkarijola to

                       Municipum Arba Square

18.15 – 19.15 Guided tour of the old town with tourist guides

19.30 – 21.00 Launch of the project Kvarner – European Gastronomic Region 2026. at St. Christopher’s Square, with tastings and

                       a fitting programme

21.00 – 23.00 After party (After party), Conte Nero, Municipum Arba Square.

Friday, 8 May 2026

 9.00 – 11.00 Opening lectures (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall):

• How Rural Tourism Can Be Competitive Without Losing Its Soul – Stefan Pettersson, director of Gameng, Sweden
• Aligning Local Opportunities and Needs for Inclusive and Sustainable Development of Rural Areas – Viktorya Ayvazyan, international rural development expert, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• Who’s Next – Rural Tourism at a Crossroads – Graham Bell, Board Member of Europa Nostra, Netherlands
• Smile While Dealing with Absurdities – Future Skills for Rural Tourism Stakeholders in a BANI World – Harald Armin Friedl, Professor at the University of Applied Sciences FH Joanneum, Austria
• Rural Renaissance Research – Nicholas Hall, founder and director of Digital Tourism Think Tank, United Kingdom (online presentation).

11.00 - 11.15  In Conversation: Italian cuisine – the first national cuisine to be granted UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status  (Hotel Padova,  Arba Congress Hall)

o          Moderator:  Mislav Matišić, Director of the Osijek-Baranja County Tourist Board               

o          Guest: H. E. Paolo Trichilo, Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Republic of Croatia

11.15 – 12.00 Panel Discussion: Gastronomic Diplomacy – from Local Tradition to Global

                       Recognition (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

• Presenter and moderator: Mislav Matišić, Director of the Osijek-Baranja County Tourist Board
• Panel participants:
  • Katija Guljelmović, family farm Pašeta, Trsteno & Pjatance
  • Boris Šuljić, Boškinac, Novalja
  • Josip Brna, House of Rab Cake
  • Davor Andrić, family farm Andrić and project ambassador Kvarner – Europska gastronomska regija 2026.
  • Bernarda Marasović, Director of the Skradin City Tourist Board and organiser of the Skradin Risotto and Lifestyle Festival
  • Dalibor Macan, sommelier and owner of Della Croce Bed&Breakfast, Svetvinčenat
  • Marijana Kalčić, newly appointed Director of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Tourist Board.

12.00 – 12.30 Refreshment break

12.30 – 13.30 Panel Discussion: Partnerships Without Borders – the Potential of Immigrants and New Investments that  

                       Bring Change (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

• Presenter and moderator: Ivan Kelić, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economics, University of Osijek
• Panel participants:
  • Ivana Perkušić, authorised to perform the duties of Director of the Directorate for Public Policy Implementation for Immigration, Ministry of Demography and Immigration
  • Dario Magdić, Deputy State Secretary at the Central State Office for Croats Abroad
  • Željka Kovčalija, owner of Hotel Dunav in Ilok
  • Denis Rubić, Organic orchard Terra Marascae, Katuni, Šestanovac
  • Anita Sinjeri Ibrišević, Topusko – Smart Thermal Town or Topusko at the Source of Health – health resort and welness-tourism in a sustainable manner
  • Robert Pende, Director of the Directorate for the Development of Entrepreneurship, Investment and Competitiveness of the Tourism Economy, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia

13.30 – 13.45 Unmoderated conversation: Four Island Women – Island Talk about Tourism (Hotel

                       Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

• Željka Frančeski, owner of Kameni otok craft business, Brač
• Ivana Matušan, Director of the Rab City Tourist Board
• Martina Pernar Škunca, Director of the Pag City Tourist Board and President of the Pag Cheese Producers Association, Pag
• Irena Grdinić, from Krk, journalist and promoter of island heritage.

13.45 – 14.30 Presentation of Award Recipients UN Best Tourism Villages i SUNCOKRET

                       of Rural Tourism – The Sunflower Award (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

• Host of the presentation of award-winning projects UN Best Tourism Villages: Irena Grdinić
• Participants:
  • Nedim Jašić, Senior Project Specialist at the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism)
  • Krupa na Vrbasu, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Minja Kovačević Šurlan, Director of the Banja Luka Tourism Organisation
  • Solčava, Nina Brdar Plesnik, Director of the Rinka Centre, Institute for Tourism and Sustainable Development of the Solčava Area
  • Slunj, Mirjana Puškarić, Mayor of the City of Slunj, Croatia
  • Kaštelir Labinci, Linda Grebac, Director of the Kaštelir-Labinci Municipality Tourist Board, Croatia.

• Host of the presentation of award-winning projects SUNCOKRET rural tourism – The Sunflower Award: Irena Grdinić
• Participants:
  • Dijana Katica, President of the Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development Klub članova Selo
  • Doživi Zeleno Međimurje, Iva Vurušić Mađarić, Tourist Board of Međimurje County
  • Grad Đurđevac, Mario Fuček, Director of the Koprivnica-Križevci County Tourist Board
  • Gorski kotar, Petar Hrg, Director of the Gorski Kotar Tourist Board
  • Brodsko Posavlje, Ružica Vidaković, Brod-Posavina County
  • Varaždinski bregi, Ivana Cvek, Director of the Tourist Board Varaždinski bregi.

14.30 – 15.30 Working lunch

15.30 – 16.00 Panel Discussion: Generational Changes and Rural Youth (Hotel Padova, Arba              

                       Congress Hall)

• Anja Fortuna, Public Policy Analyst for Rural Pact
• Zarja Bašelj.

16.00 – 16.30 Panel Discussion: International Networking and Collaboration (Hotel Padova, Arba

                       Congress Hall)

• Shpresim Domi, Global Agritourism Network – Europe Chapter 
• Jelena Kucan, Balkan Green Network 
• Jeannette Borg, Merrill Rural Network.

16.30 – 17.15 Panel Discussion: European Union Projects (Hotel Padova, Arba Congress Hall)

• Marija Dušević, TOURAL 
• Giovanni Scaramuzzo, Cluster AtlasMed 
• Ludek Kuhr, DIH Tourism 4.0
• Viola Gaudiano, DATA4Rural+.

15.30 – 17.00 Scientific and Professional Perspectives – Paper Presentations (Hotel Padova,

                       Eufemija Hall)

15.30 – 18.30 Scientific and Professional Perspectives – Paper Presentations

15.30 – 17.00 Project Presentations in the Field of Rural Development and Rural Tourism (Hotel

                       Padova, Kalifront Hall)

20.00 – 22.00 Themed dinner: Kvarner – Diversity is Beautiful.

• Cultural and artistic programme
  • Naša Đurđa – Irena Grdinić
  • Klapa Krijanca
  • DJ CHOKZY

Saturday, 9 May 2026

 9.30 – 15.00 In the Footsteps of Island Tradition – Examples of Sustainable Tourism in Practice – tour                 

                      the Happy Island – Felix Alba.