The development of equestrian tourism in Croatia is led by the Bjelovar-Bilogora County

Equestrian tourism is relatively poorly developed in Croatia, although the prerequisites for it exist. There is a rich fund of riding horses in Croatia, but this potential is insufficiently used. They used this potential in Bjelovar-Bilogora County.

The equestrian tourism development project in Bjelovar-Bilogora County was initiated by horse lovers and horse breeding in the area. There are currently fifteen active equestrian associations in the county and more than a thousand registered horses, mostly of the indigenous Gidran breed. 

Bilogora equestrian tourist trail she is the first internationally certified equestrian tourist trail in Croatia.

It offers visitors the opportunity to get to know and explore the easternmost county of central Croatia, which stretches on the slopes of Bilogora, Papuk and Moslavačka gora, along a route that connects rural tourist farms and equestrian clubs, numerous rest areas, wineries, picnic areas, ethno-houses and other objects of cultural and historical heritage. There are about twenty 'Horses welcome' points.

"This specific tourist product was recognized through the 2016 Golden Charter of Rural Tourism of the Republic of Croatia" award. emphasizes the director of the Tourist Board of Bjelovar-Bilogora County Marcel Medak.

During that year, 2016, cooperation with the international association of equestrian tourism began ENGEA which operates in seven European countries and gathers more than 30.000 members. They were the first to license eight horse-riding tourist guides in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County, and a branch was established the following year ENGEA Croatia, based in Veliko Tristva, which now has the right to license guides and companions.

At the same time, the first certified equestrian trail in this county with a length of 91 kilometers was laid out. The trail was inspected by an international team of experts, after which it was certified and included in the international catalog of equestrian tourism for 2018/2019. Then the promotion of equestrian tourism in Bjelovar-Bilogora County was started at the specialized fair Fieracavalli in Verona.

"The whole idea was born earlier and precisely in Verona: local horse lovers went to the fair privately, there the first contact was made with the representatives of ENGEA and they were presented with what we have. Then followed their visit to Bjelovarsko Bilogora County, after which they were delighted with what they saw, saying that they had not come across anything like it in all of Europe - such an expanse that is green and open, without fences, obstacles and roads. They recognized the potential, and this resulted in the execution of our first equestrian track, then certification guides and companions, and by tracing new paths", he explained Michael Anđal from TZ Bjelovar-Bilogora County.

The Tourist Board of Bjelovar-Bilogora County is also the holder of this project, which was the first of its kind in Croatia, and has plans for its further expansion.

"We cooperate with the counties within the Cluster of Central Croatia: Krapina-Zagorje, Varaždin, Međimurje, Sisak-Moslavina, Koprivnica-Križevac and Zagreb. Some of them have already started licensing, tracing and education, and in the future we plan to create a ring of these counties in the surrounding area. In this wider area, there are currently almost 400 kilometers of equestrian trails, and it is planned to reach 2022 kilometers of trails in 600. There are more than 200 kilometers in the area of ​​Bjelovar-Bilogora County alone. routed and certified equestrian tourist trails. An additional plan is to build two or three more trails, which would connect the rest of the county, and then we would have access to five counties - Zagrebačka, Sisačka, Koprivnička, Virovička and Požeška", explained Medak.  

In the years of the pandemic, the equestrian tourism development project in Bjelovar-Bilogora County was at a standstill, as was much else. After the pandemic and the growing interest among tourists to stay in nature and experience different experiences, it is the right time for its revitalization and capitalization.

"The project was already presented earlier in Verona, and now we are in contact with the representative office of HTZ in Italy and we are trying to re-present ourselves on that market. The entire infrastructure is there, now we need to break into some target markets through marketing. Italy is one of them, but it's not the only one; that's where Austria, Germany and the Benelux countries come in. The interest in our offer certainly exists, and at this stage we need to promote what we have well towards these markets, through specialized agencies and portals, but also through B2B presentations and specialized channels and try to attract as many guests as possible", announced Medak.

It is certain that this project has a lot of potential, and the well-established synergy of everyone in that chain can provide a top-notch service and experience to the demanding guest. And after the Bjelovar-Bilogor county has 'broken the ice', it is to be hoped that some other destinations will follow this example.  

Cover photo: Agrotourism Vinia, Author: Željko Smešnjak, TZ Bjelovar Bilogora County