The "Hidden Dalmatia" Visitor Center hosted the first meeting of creators of tourist experiences within the "Hidden Dalmatia" project. This important event brought together entrepreneurs from the tourism sector and took place on March 28, 2025 in the Educational Hall of the "Hidden Dalmatia" Visitor Center in Dugopolje. The organizer of the meeting was the Administrative Department for Tourism, Maritime Affairs and Transport of the Split-Dalmatia County.
The aim of this meeting was to network and encourage cooperation among tourism stakeholders, with an emphasis on sustainable practices and the development of eno-gastro and cultural tourism. Participants had the opportunity to exchange their experiences, ideas and strategies for improving competitiveness and creating new tourism products that will enrich the offer of the Split-Dalmatia County.
The meeting was opened by Renata Tešija on behalf of the Administrative Department for Tourism, Maritime Affairs and Transport of the Split-Dalmatia County. She emphasized that this meeting is the first of three planned for 2025, with the aim of creating a platform for networking tourism stakeholders in the Hidden Dalmatia area. This pilot activity was launched at the request of tourist agencies, based on research conducted in 2024, which showed that key stakeholders do not know each other well enough. Meetings organized in this way contribute to strengthening the capacity of the offer.
The entire meeting was designed in such a way that the organizers conducted in-depth interviews with the registered participants, and purposefully paired them at tables so that they could get to know people who were close to their interests. During the event, moderators Andrea Viđak and Renata Tešija additionally encouraged participants to meet and make business connections. In the introductory part of the meeting, the panelists shared their successful business stories and challenges they encountered in their work. Among the panelists were Anamarija Jurčević from Vinisa, Marin Mijić from OPG Mijić, Andrea Marin from Adventure Park Station10, and Hrvoje and Ivana Bota from Održivo doo. Also participating were Any Carević Grbić from FA Tempet, Mate Klarić from Mountain Summit Adventures, Ante Nikola Lučić from OPG Lučić, Snježana Kordun from Zavičajna kuća Gornje Poljica, and Dragan Kostadinović from Taste Dalmatia. In the end, the participants were visibly satisfied, and now it remains to be seen whether any good collaborations will develop in the area covered by Hidden Dalmatia.
Renata Tešija also emphasized the importance of developing sustainable tourism in the interior, which includes tourism for small groups of up to 15 people, with a very high quality of service based on authentic and local experiences.
This first meeting is just the beginning of a journey towards creating a stronger collaborative network in tourism. "Hidden Dalmatia" will continue to organize new events throughout 2025, which will take place in October and November, with the goal of encouraging sustainable practices and collaborative work among all stakeholders in tourism.
Anyone interested in participating in the second Meeting to be held in October and for further information can contact the Administrative Department for Tourism, Maritime Affairs and Transport of the Split-Dalmatia County via pattern.
Link to the form: https://forms.gle/MnARpovYdWhWS8Nq9
Photo: Igor Pjevac
