A signed contract on the development of the Tourism Development Strategy of Dalmatian Zagora

The Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County has joined forces with Institute for Tourism i Faculty of Economics in Split and launched the tourist development project of Dalmatian Zagora.

Representatives of the mentioned institutions - Ivana Vladović, director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, Damir Krešić, director of the Institute for Tourism i Vinko Muštra, dean of the Split Faculty of Economics - yesterday they "Hidden Dalmatia" visitor center signed a construction contract in Dugopolje Strategies for the development of tourism in the Dalmatian Zagora - Split hinterland whose goal is to determine the tourist products that will be offered in that area.

The Tourist Board of the Split-Dalmatian County has set tourism and infrastructure development in the interior of Dalmatia as one of the fundamental program goals.

"It is a great honor that these two institutions stand by the Tourist Board and that we will be able to use and apply their knowledge in creating a strategy. We believe that together we will create a beautiful and successful story in which we will push the boundaries of the tourist belt of Dalmatia and encourage investments and infrastructure development on to this area. The Split hinterland is a pearl in which we must invest and whose potential we must make the most of. This is just the beginning of a collaboration where we will test the Zagora area and see what our limits are, and after the Strategy is drawn up we expect cooperation on the creation of action plans. also praise the representatives of local tourist boards who are on the ground every day and invest a lot of effort in the promotion and development of rural areas", she pointed out Vladovic, director of the county Tourist Board.

Damir Krešić, the director of the Institute for Tourism, emphasized that tourism trends are changing and that the region of Dalmatian Zagora can respond to these changes with quality. "We thank the Tourist Association of Split-Dalmatia County for bringing us together because this will definitely not be the only project we will collaborate on. The Institute of Tourism has been engaged in scientific research in this branch for almost 70 years, while the Faculty of Economics has local expertise and knowledge of this area. Dalmatinska Zagora has a lot to offer, and the trends in the tourist market are changing. Although "sun and sea" are still the dominant motive for coming to Dalmatia, there is an increasing interest in rural destinations like Dalmatinska Zagora, which can offer something else as well. The tourism products that Zagora will offer to visitors should still be determined through this Strategy, but it will most likely be based on active and wine-gastro tourism and holidays in untouched nature, which would attract tourists from busy areas who are looking for something different. exactly what Dalmatian Zagora has to offer, starting with mentality, local culture and ending with relief and gastronomy", said Krešić.

Vinko Muštra, dean of the Faculty of Economics in Split, sees this collaboration as an excellent opportunity to upgrade students' knowledge. "I would like to thank the director of the Tourist Board and the Institute of Tourism for the trust shown, which, in addition to being a great honor, we also consider a great responsibility both towards partner institutions and towards all residents and companies in Dalmatinska zagora. This responsibility is especially great when we know how much potential Dalmatinska zagora actually has has, and because of that we will harness all the knowledge we have in the maximum improvement and development of this area. This cooperation, among other things, is also important for our tourism students who, after graduating from the faculty, will have a place to apply what they have learned and be the creators of a better and higher quality tourism . We believe that at the end of the project we will meet here again and witness the positive things that have come out of this cooperation.", said Muštra.

The cities of Sinj, Trilj and Vrlika and the municipalities of Dugopolje, Dicmo, Otok and Hrvace were included in the development of the Strategy. The signing of cooperation was also attended by representatives of the Tourist Boards of Dugopolje, Trilje, Sinj and Vrlika, who stated that the lack of infrastructure is one of the fundamental problems of Zagora and that this kind of project is of great importance for rural tourism.

After signing the cooperation agreement, representatives of institutions and local tourist boards visited the "Hidden Dalmacija" visitor center, which has seen a high increase in the number of visitors since April this year - when the Green bus line was introduced.

Cover photo: "Hidden Dalmatia" visitor center