Announcement of the program of the 6th International Congress on Rural Tourism
Zagreb, March 29, 2024 - All lovers of rural tourism across Europe are impatiently counting down to the 6th International Congress on Rural Tourism, which will gather professional and scientific from April 10 to 13, 2024, at the Le Meridien Lav Hotel in Podstrana. Inspirational panels, colorful discussions, awards for the best young farmers, and interactive workshops are just part of the rich opus offered by the upcoming Congress. The arrival of more than 300 participants from more than 20 European countries is expected.
Through eight thematic areas and numerous sub-themes, respected experts will talk about the European rural area, challenges and opportunities of special forms of rural tourism, innovations and new technologies, networking, and human resources management. The congress offers an excellent and unique opportunity to meet leaders in the world of rural tourism, to present one's work, professional development, career advancement, and networking with experts.
Below is the outline program of the 6th International Congress on Rural Tourism:
Wednesday, April 10th, 2024
14:00–17:00
Arrival, participant registration, and accreditation
17:00–18:00
Panel organized in cooperation with the Representation of the European Commission in Croatia
"20 years of EU membership - framework for sustainable, digital and inclusive rural areas"
Moderator: Andrea Čović Vidović, Acting Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Croatia
19:00–21:00
The opening ceremony of the 6th international congress on rural tourism and the awarding of the best young farmer in 2024.
The organizers of the award ceremony are the Croatian representative in the European Parliament and the ambassador of this project for Croatia from the European People's Party (EPP) Sunčana Glavak and Jutarnji list
Hosts: Jasna Damjanović and Joško Bonaći
21:00–23:00
Dinner
After Party - Not Before 23
DJ in Pivnica
Thursday, April 11th, 2024
7:00–9:30
Breakfast
9:30–9:45
Gathering at the Congress Centre
9:45–11:00
Introductory speeches
Sustainable tourism and smart rural communities, Dora Smolčić Jurdana, president of the Program Committee and professor at the Faculty of Management in Tourism and Hospitality
Global Standards for sustainable tourism, Luigi Cabrini, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council
European tourism fostering sustainable rural development, Andreea Staicu, Deputy Head of the Tourism and Textile Unit, DG Grow, The Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission
Tourism, general useful functions of forests and hospitality in Croatian Forests, Josip Šešelj, Head of the Croatian Forests Ltd. Hunting Service
11:00–12:00
Panel: „New opportunities in rural areas for young people: Challnges and Opportunities“
Panellists:
• Member of the European Parliament Sunčana Glavak
• State Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Croatia Zdravko Tušek
12:00–13:00
Dalmatian brunch: Presentation of a new certified tourist brand and tasting organised by the Split- Dalmatia Country Tourist Board
13:00–14:00
Lectures
Wine and fine food tourism facing a new demand and the role-played by the supply chain and local policies, Magda Antonioli, Bocconi – School of Management and vice president of ETC (European Travel Commission)
Rural tourism in the context of the Rural Vision and the Common Agricultural Policy, Silvia Nanni, DG Agri, European Commission
Mariana Golumbean, Head of Innovation, Technology Transfer and Dissemination Department, Balkan Ecological Association, National Institute for Marine Research and Development "Grigore Antipa" ISSE-BENA
Sustainability as a key success factor for agrotourism: experiences from Austria, Hans Embacher, CEO of Urlaum am Bauernhof, Austria
14:00–15:00
Panel: „Towards the development of smart rural tourism in Europe“
Panellists:
• Carolina Clark, Project Manager, European Institute of Cultural Routes
• Karolina Taczanowska, BOKU University Vienna, Austria
• Andreas Niederl, viši istraživač na POLICIES – Institut za ekonomsku, društvenu i inovacijsku politiku JOANNEUM RESEARCH
• Anna Marconato, Central European Initiative (CEI)
15:00–15:45
Networking and work lunch
15:45–16:45
Sections, Exhibitions and Presentations
Rural Tourism – International Experiences
17:15–18:00
Departure to Sinj
18:00–22:00
Along the roads of Sinj alkar
After Party - Not Before 23
DJ in Pivnica
Friday, April 12th, 2024
7:00–9:30
Breakfast
9:30–9:45
Gathering at the Congress Centre
9:45–11:00
Introductory speeches
Host: Edita Lučić Jelić
Empowering communities through smart strategies to build collaboration and improve communications, Diane Dodd, Institute for Gastronomy, Culture, art and tourism, Barcelona, Spain
"We are out of the niche" - Rural Tourism as Consolidated Part of the Tourism Economy, Klaus Ehrlich, RuralTour - European Federation of Rural of Tourism, Belgium
Agrotourism as a new trend towards Cluster Development and Sustainable Food Systems - the case of Albania, Valbona Ylli, National Agriculture and Food Policy expert, FAO Representation Office in Albania
11:00–12:00
Panel: „Enogastronomy: an opportunity for entrepreneurs and a pleasure for tourists“
Panellists:
• Diana Lazar, Senior Tourism Manager and Wine Director at USAID's Competitiveness and Resilience Project in Moldova
• Ljupcho Janevski, Faculty of Tourism, University of Skopje, Nort Macedonia
• Edith Szivas, Institute for Gastronomy, Culture, art and tourism, Barcelona, Spain
• Renata Vincek, Tourist Board of Kvarner
12:00–13:00
Panel: „Expatriates and returnees: tourists, investors, and revitalizers of smart rural communities“
13:00–14:30
Presentation of the tourist offer of Baranja in the organisation of the Tourist Board of Baranja and working lunch
14:30–16:00
Discover Sustainable Tourism with Stefan Pettersson: A Workshop to Transform Rural Destinations
Let's interpret the heritage of smart rural villages, Dubravko Fijačko
Sections, Exhibitions and Presentations
16:30–17:00
Departure to Split
17:00–19:30
Along the paths of the Split momentous
20:00–21:00
Return to the hotel and refreshments
21:00–23:00
Gala dinner: following the heritage of Split-Dalmatia County
After Party - Not Before 23
DJ in Pivnica
Saturday, April 13th, 2024
7:00–9:00
Breakfast
9:00–18:00
Along the heritage paths of the island of Brač