DMK Forum: Leading experts from Croatia and the world spoke about food and wine tourism

The 9th National DMK Forum, which belongs to key annual events in Croatian tourism, was held at the Westin Hotel in Zagreb, and this edition was dedicated to contemporary oenological and gastronomic tourism which today is an inseparable part of destination management.

Organized by the Croatian Tourist Board (HTZ) and the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies (UHPA), the forum brought together numerous experts from Croatia and abroad, who exchanged knowledge and presented examples of good practice through a dynamic program.

The forum started with welcome speeches by Tomislav Fain (UHPA), Kristjan Staničić (HTZ) and Monika Udovicic (Ministry of Tourism and Sports), and then David Mora, coordinator of the master's program Food Tourism at the Basque Culinary Center, held a lecture entitled "Unlocking the Potential of Year-Round Gastronomy Tourism".

"On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, we would like to express our satisfaction that the 9th National DMK Forum this year devoted attention to food and gastronomy tourism, one of the most important segments of our offer. The promotion of this form of tourism not only reveals the richness of Croatian food and wine heritage, but additionally contributes to the goals of the Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy until 2030. We are sure that the exchange of experiences and good practices at this forum will provide added value, strengthen cooperation within the sector and strengthen Croatia's position as a destination that provides guests with authentic and unforgettable experiences" emphasized Monika Udovicic, State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

The program also included panel presentations by foreign and domestic experts, with an emphasis on examples of good practice. Kenny Dunn from Eating Europe (USA), Lana Novalić from Balkantina (BiH) and local experts Kim Lucia Butigan, Adriatic DMC (Dubrovnik), Augustin Fabijanić, Wayoudo - Free Spirit Tours (Zagreb) and Jelena Berečić, Rudi presented their experiences. Travel – Rudi Express (Čakovec).

"Our country continuously works on the development and promotion of eno-gastronomy as one of the important tourist products, which often represents an important motive for the arrival of guests to the destination. In addition, eno and gastro tourism are important assets in attracting tourists outside the main summer months, which contributes to the development of year-round tourism, our priority in improving the overall tourism industry. That is why I am glad that this year's DMK Forum successfully brought together representatives of the best domestic agencies and foreign tourism entities, as well as award-winning Croatian chefs, who showed through their own experiences what it means to be an example of excellence in destination management, as well as in highlighting the authenticity, originality and attractiveness of the destination. within the framework of gastro tourism", said Kristjan Staničić, director of the Croatian Tourist Board.

A special segment of the program is dedicated to development good gourmet food of tourism in Croatia. Famous Croatian chefs Rudolf Štefan (Pelegrini, Šibenik) and Bernard Korak (Korak Restaurant and Winery, Jastrebarsko) shared their experiences and gave insight into the future of this niche, which is increasingly attracting domestic and foreign visitors.

"Tourism has become completely inseparable from the desire to discover new tastes and smells of the regions that guests visit. It is clear that destinations must stand out with a diverse and authentic offer, where food and drink reflect the nature and culture from which they originated. This is precisely where we see the importance of destination management companies, whose key role is to create products with high added value. We are glad that we gave the Forum's visitors the opportunity to meet leading experts and pioneers in the development of oenological and gastronomic tourism offers in Croatia and the world.", said Tomislav Fain, president of UHPA.

The forum concluded with the presentation of good practice examples of Croatian tourist regions - Istria and Kvarner, the European Gastronomy Region 2026. Cristina Vojić Krajcar (TZ Istria) and Renata Vincek (TZ Kvarner) pointed out that these regions, with many years of effort and an innovative approach to destination management, became a model of excellence in oenological and gastronomic tourism.

9. The National DMK Forum once again stood out as an indispensable platform for the exchange of knowledge, experiences and inspiring ideas in tourism. A high-quality program, excellent lecturers and a focus on key aspects of food and wine tourism ensured that this forum became a central gathering place for professionals who continuously raise standards in destination management. The participants pointed out that such events not only connect tourism stakeholders and experts, but also contribute to the strengthening of Croatia as a globally competitive and innovative destination.

Photo author: Marko Vrdoljak