The first Schengen tourism product of Slovenia and Croatia was presented

The initiative for the promotion of the joint cross-border tourist product of Gorski kotar and Zeleni kras "Explore The Wondernature" resulted in a public presentation organized by the representative office of HTZ in Ljubljana.

The representative office of the Croatian Tourist Board in Ljubljana prepared a presentation of this year's tourism results in Croatia at an appropriate Christmas brunch, with a special focus on the importance of the Slovenian market for Croatian tourism. Emphasis is placed on the new tourism development strategy, which emphasizes sustainability in the foreground.

From initiative to action in one month

At a meeting of representatives of cities and other regional institutions of the two neighboring regions, Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Primorje-Notra region in Ilirska Bistrica on November 6, the initiative to promote the joint, cross-border product of Gorski kotar and Zeleni kras "Explore The Wondernature" was initiated. The meeting was organized by the development agencies of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county "Prigoda" and the Primorje-Notra region, "Zeleni kras".

Exactly one month later, on December 06, the presentation of the first Schengen Slovenian-Croatian tourist product was held in the organization of the representative office of the Croatian Tourist Board headed by Bruno Bonifačić. in the legendary hotel "Elephant" in Ljubljana in front of about fifty representatives of the media and tour operators.

Christmas brunch

At the appropriate Christmas brunch, enriched by the presentation of excellent wines from the Korak winery from the Plješivice vineyard, this year's tourism results in Croatia were presented, with a special focus on the importance of the Slovenian market for Croatian tourism. Emphasis was also placed on the new tourism development strategy, which emphasizes sustainability in the foreground. One such integral, sustainable tourism product was presented for the first time as a joint Slovenian-Croatian borderless (Schengen) offer.

Explore The Wondernature was jointly presented by Petar Hrg, director of the Gorski Kotar Tourist Board and Dejan Iskra, head of tourism at the Zeleni Kras Development Agency.

The tourist product "Explore The Wondernature" includes:

Green Karst area with points of interest

• Postojna
• Cross pit
• Lake Cerkniško
• Rakov Škocjan
• Lakes of Piva
• Pod
• The top of the Snežnik mountain
• Snežnik Castle
• Škocjan caves
• Postojna pit
• Stud farm Lipice

Gorski kotar area with points of interest

• Kaštel Zrinski, Ruta Putovima Frankopan, Brod na Kupi
• Kamačnik Canyon
• Boat Moravice
• Green Spring
• Lokvarsko Lake
• Ponds
• Lokvarka cave
• Risnjak National Park
• The source of the Kupa River
• Kupa River
• Presidium
• Tub
• They will dance
• Bridge

Two countries, two regions, one tourist destination

At all these points of interest, we have experience and accommodation providers that carry the "Explore the Wondernature" label. This is the first integral tourism product of two neighboring regions and countries that will gain its true value when Croatia joins the Schengen border regime.

We can say that the area of ​​the tourist product "Explore The Wondernature" is a unique natural entity and a unique habitat for the most famous wild animals, wolves, lynxes and bears.

The initiative aims to take advantage of the moment before Croatia's entry into the Schengen border crossing regime, so that first in Ljubljana and Zagreb, and then in other important emission destinations jointly promoted this cross-border tourist product.

The promotion sends a message to Slovenians to visit their beautiful Zeleni Karst and continue their experience in Gorski Kotar. Croats are drawn to the richness of the joint offer of Gorski kotar and Zeleni kras.

This kind of connected offer increases the value of both tourist destinations, encourages boundless traffic in the area where people naturally gravitate towards each other, on both sides of the Kupa for centuries.

"Explore The Wondernature" was launched at the inconvenient time of the culmination of the Covid 19 pandemic, so it remained insufficiently known to the general public. This initiative aims to give a new impetus to the revival of an already finished tourist product as well as its improvement and systematic management.

Photos: Nedo Pinezić, www.nedopinezic.com