The first Academy of Sustainable Tourism was held in Kanfanar

The month of November, when the main tourist season is slowly behind us, and the preparations for the new one are about to start, is the right time for renters to summarize their business and think about where they see themselves in the future. 

This month was a kind of turning point in Kanfanar, where it was held for the first time Academy of Sustainable Tourism through which renters had the opportunity to learn in a very practical and experiential way about the application of the concept of sustainable development in tourism - through detailed thematic modules that covered numerous topics from the field of sustainability. 

For Kanfanar as a destination, the Academy marked the beginning of an even stronger focus on sustainable tourism as a way of further developing the place.

The Academy of Sustainable Development, whose concept and program were designed by top experts and experienced lecturers with practical and expert knowledge of the main areas of sustainable development, aimed to educate private landlords about ecological, socio-cultural and financial sustainability and encourage them to engage in socially responsible business in accordance with the principles of sustainability.

"We had the opportunity and honor to work with an extraordinary generation of participants of the Academy of Sustainable Tourism who see their future as ambassadors of sustainable tourism. After adopting the theoretical concept, all participants focused on creating their individual action plans 2025-2030 through practical work in order to have a measurable basis for our future cooperation focused on concrete improvements" he stated Alan Šišinacki in front of the Academy of Sustainable Development.

In addition to Šišinački, as the initiator of the Academy and lecturer for the Green Transition module, other topics were presented to the renters by Ph.D. Dolores Pusar Banović (Sustainable Finance module), Manuela Hrvatin (module: Culture and tourism) and Nedo Pinezić who spoke about a holistic approach to tourism and how to be a good host.

The uniqueness of this Academy is reflected in the fact that lectures and workshops are held over two weeks, which allows for a more detailed and professional approach to each individual topic, as well as in the fact that each module is presented by an expert in the field who, in addition to theoretical, also has rich practical experience.

This allows participants to through specific examples show how to apply the principles of sustainability in practice. 

The landlords from Kanfanar thus improved in modules such as: basics of sustainable development, legal obligations of landlords, green transition (topics covered: zero-waste concept, plastic-free practice, electricity as a key resource, promotion and protection of drinking water, cleaning of accommodation unit with ecological means...), legal forms of carrying out tourism activities, calculations of return on investment and financing models of renters, culture and tourism, storytelling in tourism and interpretation of heritage, holistic approach to tourism, examples of good and bad practice, etc.

Furthermore, the participants had the opportunity to develop individual skills under the mentoring of experts from the Academy action plans improvements, and the mentors from the Academy will continue to monitor them in the coming period and evaluate what has been achieved after a year. 

The quality of the Academy itself, as well as the interestingness of the topics covered, is best told by the fact that, after the training, the renters expressed their desire to continue their involvement in the community and created an informal community of Academy participants that continues to gather and devise future joint initiatives and projects that will contribute to the sustainable development of tourism on in the area of ​​Kanfanar Municipality. 

In support of this, the participants' reviews of the experiences they had while attending the Academy of Sustainable Tourism speak for themselves.

"I did not expect such an interactive format of the Academy, I am delighted and surprised, in a positive sense. It was very useful to hear experiences and to become aware of my position as a renter. I got the impression and encouragement that I can do much more for the purpose of my positioning in the sea of ​​renters. I became aware of the strengths and weaknesses of tourism and renting as I know it now, which I didn't think too much about until now, but I took tourism and renting "for granted". All lectures are very useful and interesting, the lecturers work hard in their field. I would recommend this Academy to everyone, it is useful for everyday life because we have all been tourists or guests at least once. I'm already trying to infect other renters in my area", said Iva M., the owner of the apartment. 

"Sustainable tourism, green transition, waste, resources, sustainable finance, heritage, culture and tourism, how as a host to provide a superb experience to your guest... All this and even more (new experiences through acquaintance with wonderful people) was provided to me by the Academy of sustainable tourism with lecturers who are excellent experts, full of positive energy, open and ready to selflessly share their vast knowledge and experience. I'm looking forward to the sequel", said Tatjana T., owner of holiday homes.

The Academy of Sustainable Tourism was held in the period from November 8 to 17, as part of the project 'Kanfanar - where tourism is sustainable', for which the Tourist Board of the Municipality of Kanfanar obtained co-financing from the Croatian Tourist Board through a public call for funds from the Fund for Tourism Underdeveloped Areas and the continent, and the Academy was financially supported by the Tourist Board of Istria County, which also works to achieve sustainable tourism at the regional level. 

As part of the same project, at the beginning of the season, the tourist board created and distributed to renters bilingual stickers that inform guests that the water that flows from our taps is drinkable and healthier compared to that bought, thereby encouraging the consumption of such water and avoiding buying water in plastic bottles , which generate large amounts of waste. 

"The positive outcomes of the project are an incentive for the Kanfanar Municipality Tourist Board to design and implement activities in the coming period that aim at tourism that is managed according to the principles of sustainability, and a prerequisite for this is a satisfied and aware community of renters as ambassadors of sustainable development", said the director Ivana Maružin Mrzlić.

Photo: Davor Savić