The Association of Croatian Travel Agencies (UHPA) is one of the six involved project partners.

PROJECT DURATION: 01.09.2024. – 28.02.2027. (30 months)

PROJECT AREA: Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and Istria County (CRO) and Coastal-Krast Region (SLO)

BUDGET: 2,433,073.77 EUR (80% from ERDF = 1,946,459.01 EUR; 20% co-financing / partner contribution = 486,614.76 EUR)

PROJECT PARTNERS:

1. City of Kastav (CRO) - lead partner
2. Koper Regional Museum (SLO)
3. Historical and Maritime Museum of Istria (CRO)
4. City of Koper (SLO)
5. Association of Croatian Travel Agencies (CRO)
6. Regional Development Center of Koper (SLO)

GRANT PROVIDED BY: European Regional Development Fund – Cross-border Cooperation Programme INTERREG Slovenia – Croatia for the period 2021 – 2027

SPECIFIC PROJECT OBJECTIVE: Strengthening the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation.

MAIN PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

1. Preserving the shared medieval cultural heritage of the Karst, Istria and Slovenian coastal regions from neglect and impair.
2. The valorization of the tourism appeal of cultural heritage through the development of cross-border cultural and tourist destinations and cross-border tourism products
3. Implementation of different methods of heritage interpretation and promotion in order to raise awareness among the local population about its importance and potential and to revive a common cultural identity

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES:

• Development of strategic documents to serve as a basis for the sustainable development of a cross-border cultural tourist destination (strategy, action plan, historical site management plan);
• Establishment of visitor infrastructure (Interpretation Center of Vincent and Ivan from Kastav and ​​Prem Castle Museum);
• Innovative methods of interpretation of the Terra Gothica Incognita destination developed and implemented (exhibitions, workshops, thematic manifestations);
• Expansion and upgrade of the Patrimonio cultural heritage database with an interactive map of historical sites in the cross-border area and 3D images of historical sites;
• Innovative thematic cross-border products developed (interactive game, picture book);
• Destination marketing plan developed and promotional campaign carried out, increasing the visibility of the shared destination as well as its cultural-tourism products through events, exhibitions, concerts, which will result in an increase in the number of visitors to lesser-known cultural-tourist locations;
• Pilot testing action conducted and evaluation of developed tourist routes executed;
• Knowledge, resources and best practices exchanged between partners and stakeholders through the organization of a popular science symposium;
• Target groups educated through capacity building workshops on the topic of destination promotion and cross-border tourism product development

TARGET GROUPS:

1. Local public bodies (government bodies and tourism boards)
2. Sectoral agencies in the field of culture, tourism and other relevant areas
3. Interest groups including non-government organizations active in the field of protection and promotion of culture and cultural heritage
4. Universities and research institutions
5. General public - local population

Project is co-financed by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs