Successfully completed project "Development and improvement of outdoor tourism products in the area of ​​Đakovo"

Four years ago, the Tourist Board of the city of Đakovo and nine municipalities of Đakovo: Drenje, Levanjska Varoš, Gorjani, Satnica Đakovačka, Punitovci, Semeljci, Strizivojna, Trnava and Viškovci concluded a cooperation agreement with the aim of developing and shaping the area of ​​Đakovo into a unified, harmonized and market an established destination for cyclotourism and other outdoor products.

Based on this project association, the Tourist Board of the town of Đakovo in 2024, as a coordinator, submitted the project to the Public Tender of the Croatian Tourist Board for the allocation of funds for projects of joint tourist boards.

Project "Development and improvement of outdoor tourism products in the area of ​​Đakovo - activities on lakes and other outdoor activities" received support in the amount of EUR 30.000,00, which represents 80% of the total value of the project, and the remaining part is financed by the coordinator and partners. The project was also supported by the City of Đakovo and the Sports and Rowing Association of Đakovo.

Đakovo with its lakes has great potential for the development and improvement of green and sustainable outdoor tourism products, especially activities on the lakes. Specifically, Lake Jošava, located in the area of ​​the City of Đakovo and the Municipality of Viškovci, as part of the project, was the venue for rowing training of the Đakovo Sports and Rowing Association (boat, kayak, canoe), and the 5th final race of the Cup of the Republic of Croatia - Croatian Kayak League in kayak and canoeing on calm waters for younger cadets, cadets and younger juniors, which brought together 170 participants from all over the country.

This lake also hosted the start of training for younger age groups for kayaking, hosted school sports holidays, hosted the first control measurement of candidates for the Croatian marathon team for the World Championships in kayaking and canoeing, which took place in Metković. Lake Borovik, located in the area of ​​the municipalities of Drenje and Levanjske Varoš, along with rowing training sessions of the Đakovo Sports and Rowing Association (boat, kayak, canoe), was also the venue for the Borovik Cup boat race, in which about three hundred participants from all over Croatia took part.

Emphasis on events that promote the outdoor offer Đakovo turned out to be the right direction, so the seventh edition of the Enzito Noćni cenera was held in Strizivojna with as many as 320 competitors from the country and abroad, both recreational and professional runners who ran races of 5 and 10 kilometers. The 4th Pedalina bicycle race with a hundred participants who drove an interesting route of 50,7 kilometers through several municipalities of Đakovo is certainly significant in the list of events.

The project made him rich outdoor Đakovo and equipment, so on this occasion a trailer for the transport of boats and kayaks and pontoons was also purchased, and by purchasing equipment and organizing outdoor events, TZ Đakovo wishes its partners develop, popularize and improve a green and sustainable outdoor tourism product - with an emphasis on activities on the lakes, but also on other outdoor activities with the purpose of developing and improving the comparative advantages of the destination and the valorization of natural heritage. As part of the activity, an interactive info board was purchased and installed for the educational trail in the Municipality of Satnica Đakovačka.

Lakes are the biggest advantage of Đakovo and investment in outdoor facilities and the production of events that popularize outdoor activities on lakes is the right way to develop touristic outdoor products. Through the use of natural resources, Đakovo strengthens its offer in this segment, for which we have excellent examples in the neighborhood in Austria and Switzerland. It is important in this project and cooperation of local stakeholders especially the strengthening of local sports clubs and associations, that is extremely important.

"For the implementation of the project, funds were secured from the Fund for Tourism Underdeveloped Areas and the Continent based on the Decision of the Tourism Council of HTZ on the proposal of a committee in which representatives of HTZ, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia and members of the tourism council of the regional tourist board" he explains director of TZ Đakova Marija Borko adding that the goal is to improve the comparative advantages of the destination and the valorization of natural heritage.

Jezera certainly has the potential for the development of a quality tourist product of Đakovo, which is the heart of Slavonia, and with the outdoor tourist product Đakovo will easily link other products and package tourist packages for a wider audience.

This region capitalizes on its natural heritage precisely through active tourism - cycle tourism and outdoors related to the lakes. 

Photo: TZ Đakovo