Terra Gothica Incognita: Second consultative workshop held in Hrastovlje

On Thursday, 12 June 2025, the second joint consultative workshop for various interest groups and stakeholders was held in Hrastovlje, Slovenia, as part of the INTERREG project Terra Gothica Incognita.

The meeting brought together experts, institutional representatives, local stakeholders, and tourism professionals from Slovenia and Croatia, with the aim of jointly reflecting on and planning the development of cultural tourism in the cross-border area of Croatia and Slovenia.

The workshop enabled stakeholders to express their opinions, ideas, and proposals, and to actively participate in shaping the cultural and tourism development strategy and governance model of the new cross-border destination, as well as its further promotion. This inclusive approach ensures that stakeholders feel ownership of the destination development process and contribute to the creation of a sustainable and authentic tourism product.

The workshop was opened by Uroš Jelenović (City Municipality of Koper), followed by project manager Renato Stanković (City of Kastav), who presented the project’s objectives and plans, as well as the new visual identity of the project destination. Experts Jelena Berečić and Marko Koščak then presented examples of good practice from the Slovenian part of Istria, Međimurje, as well as cross-border cooperation examples such as Šavrinke & Kaštelir, which further encouraged discussion on the possibilities for cultural tourism development in the project region.

In the following part of the workshop, participants worked in groups and, using a structured questionnaire, began identifying key challenges and development potentials of the destination, alongside an exchange of views and proposals for further cooperation.

The workshop concluded with a joint discussion and the announcement of further activities within the Terra Gothica Incognita project, including the formation of thematic working groups and the involvement of a wider community in future steps. At the end, participants had the opportunity to visit the renowned Church of the Holy Trinity in Hrastovlje, famous for its 15th-century medieval frescoes, further highlighting the importance of preserving and interpreting cultural heritage in a tourism context.

The Terra Gothica Incognita project continues to develop as a platform for cross-border cooperation, valorisation of cultural heritage, and the creation of a sustainable tourism offer based on the identity of the region.

The survey questionnaire Satisfaction and potential of the cultural heritage tourism offer in the destination is available here.

Source: UHPA

Photo: Regional Development Centre Koper / UHPA

The project is co-financed by the Office for Associations of the Government of the Republic of Croatia