Practice is the best school: tourism students visiting the first Green destination in Croatia

As part of field classes, around 40 tourism studies students from the University of Zadar visited Međimurje. 

Graduate students Sustainable development of tourism, Entrepreneurship in culture and tourism and studies Cultural and natural heritage in tourism and undergraduate studies Culture and tourism management of natural heritage under the guidance of a professor from the Department of Tourism and Communication Sciences of the University of Zadar Gabriele Vidić, they came to Međimurje because - according to Professor Vidić - it "an example of sustainable tourism management".

"Međimurje recently got i Green destinations certificate which have the only ones in Croatia. And that status is not accidental. Even before the certificate, the leadership of the county Tourist Board - whom I had the opportunity to meet at the World Tourism Fair in Russia - saw that they were thinking strategically and understanding the principles of sustainability. Already then they implemented it in their destination, which we were amazed by, especially comparing Međimurje with some coastal destinations. Međimurje seemed like another world to us", says Gabrijela Vidić.

With the students, she visited the Međimurje Ecomuseum Visitor Center, the Lina rural holiday house, the Sveti Martin Spa and the viewpoint on Mađerkina breg.

Of all the vacation homes, they chose Lina because it is the first private accommodation in Međimurje with an Ecolabel certificate, awarded by the European Commission, while Terme Sveti Martin is the first Croatian hotel with the Eco label.  

"We really couldn't have chosen a better location, and our students, especially those from the Study of Sustainable Development study the course 'Management of sustainable development of a tourist destination', while undergraduate students study 'Specific forms of tourism'. We wanted to show them how one destination develops complementary specific forms of tourism such as cycle tourism, eno-gastro tourism and of course cultural tourism, and what it looks like on the ground. We found everything we hoped to find. We find it fascinating strategic planning and cooperation between the various stakeholders of the destination.", said Professor Vidić. 

President Međimurje County Tourist Board Rudi Grula, said about the students' visit: "We are glad that Međimurje and local tourism serve as an example of good practice, this time for the University of Zadar. This means that we are on the right track and that what we do, we do well. Most of the students have never been to Međimurje before." 

"I asked them if they would come back and if they would recommend a visit to Međimurje, and they all answered that they would, which is a perfect indicator of good work in tourism.", is a satisfied professor who goes on to say: "Wherever we went, it was as if you found what you teach in theory in practice. You know that when professors teach something, students are often suspicious, only when they see for themselves do they see that we are not telling fairy tales. They had the opportunity to see for themselves that when we talk about sustainability in tourism, the involvement of the local community is very important."

They were surprised that Međimurje has a project 'hop in - hop off' buses, which no region has. Big cities have buses that drive from one tourist location to another, but not the entire county. "The special thing is that the entire region cooperates", says Professor Vidić. Namely, when tourists arrive, they can park their car and sit in it again only on departure, and see all the tourist attractions of the destination. "It's an excellent thing, especially when you nurture food and wine tourism. Međimurje wines are famous," notes, and concludes that the leadership of the Tourist Board of Međimurje County "too modest compared to what he does".

Source, photo: Međimurje County Tourist Board