The Vrsar Tourist Board is a project partner in “IstraECOinclusive – Development of a New Cross-Border Sustainable and Inclusive Tourist Destination”, which officially started on 1 March 2026 within the framework of the Interreg Slovenia–Croatia Programme 2021–2027.
The lead partner is the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU). Alongside the Vrsar Tourist Board, project partners include ROS.TURIST – Institute for Responsible Tourism (Dekani), Sonček – Association for Cerebral Palsy of Slovenia (Elerji), the Istrian Region (Department of Tourism), the Municipality of Vrsar, and the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism in Poreč. The project brings together public, scientific and tourism sector stakeholders with the aim of strengthening cross-border cooperation and developing sustainable tourism solutions.
The IstraECOinclusive project aims to establish a sustainable and inclusive cross-border tourist destination connecting Croatian and Slovenian Istria, serving as a model of good practice for future tourism development. The project focuses on creating a model that balances environmental protection, social responsibility and accessibility for diverse user groups.
A key element of the project is the enhancement of the Parenzana trail, which will be enriched with new content related to green transition. Two important centres will be developed and connected: the Sonček Centre in Elerji (Slovenia) and the Kontija Scientific-Educational Centre in Vrsar (Croatia). The Parenzana route will evolve into an experiential and interpretive trail, with improved accessibility for persons with disabilities and the elderly, contributing to greater social awareness within the destination.
The project also includes training and capacity-building activities for tourism stakeholders, focusing on sustainable business practices, green transition and inclusive tourism approaches. At the same time, new tourism products and management models will be developed to enhance the quality and long-term sustainability of the destination.
The seven project partners, together with local authorities along the Parenzana route, will establish a cross-border consortium to ensure joint destination management, continuity of cooperation and the transfer of knowledge and best practices beyond the project’s duration.
The total project budget amounts to €1.41 million, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and will run until 31 August 2028.
By participating in this project, the Vrsar Tourist Board further strengthens its active role in developing sustainable and responsible tourism, contributing to the creation of an innovative and inclusive destination in Istria.
