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The final conference of the Integra Lika project, the integral economic development of Lika and Primorje, was held at the same place where this successful project began five years ago, on the Plitvice Lakes.
Due to epidemiological reasons, the classic conference was not held, but results were presented that show how what was believed to be impossible can be achieved in Lika, as the least populated area of the Republic of Croatia.
The INTEGRA LIKA 2020 project is a five-year project designed in the Lika LAG in 2015, on which Tomislav Kovačević, as the head of the LAG at the time, Danijel Tušak, a private entrepreneur and still the current president of the Lika LAG, and Petra Aničić worked from the very beginning. and Ivana Starčević as LAG project manager.
The main goal of the project was branding destinations Lika as a destination protected areas and gastronomic destinations.
It is known that the whole of Lika, together with the sea side of Velebit, represents a fascinating natural entity and that the area is home to three national parks, a nature park, a cave park, a biosphere park and a number of other natural phenomena with rich biodiversity. Almost 60% of this area is in the European ecological network NATURA 2000, which contributes to the thesis of the impeccable cleanliness and natural beauty of this climate.
Furthermore, the food produced in this climate has an exceptional taste, and in order to create recognition, a destination quality certificate named Lika Quality. It is currently in this system 160 products which are produced by 59 OPGs.
The Lika Quality brand has gone beyond the borders of the Lika destination, and these products can be found in stores all over Croatia. This unique system of certification and branding is also recognized in other destinations that themselves launch their own certifications. Among Lika Quality products, dairy products especially stand out, especially Lički skripavac, which, thanks to this very project, is already on the way to obtaining EU protection of geographical origin. There are also Lika brandies made from fruit, honey, various jams, as well as meat products, of which we especially highlight meat from bush, local cattle. In addition to food products, the Lika Quality system also includes numerous souvenirs, among which the Lika cap proudly stands out.
In order to complete the entire cycle, the INTEGRA LIKA 2020 project also established and Agricultural cooperative Lika coop which brings together local producers and markets their products.
By the way, the destination Lika covers a wider geographical area than the existing administrative borders of Lika, namely, apart from the Lika-Senj County, the destination also includes parts of the Zadar and Karlovac Counties, which is another positive example of development through the branding of the region.
Destination branding tasks are entrusted to a local tourism cluster called Cluster Lika destination which according to modern principles destination management organizations implements this demanding but very well received project. Thanks to them, the destination of Lika received a world award this year and was included in TOP 100 GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DESTINATIONS.
In addition to the above-mentioned activities, as part of the project, a joint ticket project for eight attractions of the Lika destination was implemented, a common point of sale for Lika Quality products was opened, an integral quality management project was launched - IQM Destination Lika, as well as much more.
"The destination of Lika is positioned on the world tourist map, and it achieved its crown of recognition at the world level. It is gratifying to see how a long-term strategic project can be successfully implemented in a passive area like Lika. It is important to turn knowledge into a vision and implement it in an adequate way that generates successful results. Success is also due to networking, which the INTEGRA LIKA 2020 project has proven" point out from LAG Lika.
Like every project, INTEGRA LIKA 2020 has come to an end. I sincerely hope that this is only the end of one project, and that the team from the entire project will continue with the development of the entire Like platform and destination.
Because it is about the best project in Croatia, which it should be case study for all our tourist regions, and therefore deserves much greater support and attention from tourist institutions.
We will soon see what the visionaries of Like have in store for us, and I sincerely hope so
