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SReST PROJECT HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED WITH A KICK-OFF MEETING IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF POSTOJNA, SLOVENIA
SReST project has officially started with the inaugural meeting hosted by the Lead Partner of the project, the Municipality of Postojna, Slovenia. The meeting marked the official commencement of this transformative initiative. Besides SERDA which is the project partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina, it brought also together partners from six more countries – Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro. It set the stage for a dynamic exchange of ideas and expertise in sustainable tourism development through preservation of agricultural biodiversity and promotion of slow food travel.
The meeting provided a platform for invaluable knowledge exchange between partners. They shared examples of their good practices and presented the challenges they will be tackling within the SReST project. Some of the highlighted common hurdles included workforce shortages, waning interest in local farming, as well as limited knowledge and awareness about slow food principles.
Besides the project partners, the meeting was attended by several public officials, which underlined the transformative potential of the SReST project. Dubrovka Kalin, General Director of the Tourism Directorate at the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia delivered a keynote address underscoring the significance of authenticity in tourism offerings and advocating for a departure from mass tourism in favour of culturally and gastronomically rich experiences.
Mayor of the Municipality of Postojna, Igor Marentič, addressed the challenge of convincing transit tourists to prolong their visits in small rural towns.
The kick-off meeting was also the opportunity for SERDA to promote success stories of socially responsible slow-food tourism initiatives implemented in Sarajevo Canton and Fojnica Municipality within “Katun Roads”, “Rural Tourism in Mountain Destinations” and “Challenge to Change” projects.
Carinthia’s best practices an inspiration for SReST partners
An enriching study tour of exemplary practices in the Carinthia region provided project partners with hands-on experiences and insights into slow food practices. Led by experts in the field, participants delved into the origins, organization and working methods of slow food travel in this area.
Throughout the tour, partners were immersed in the rich culinary traditions and sustainable practices of the Carinthia region, gaining valuable insights and inspiration for their own solutions within the SReST project.
About the project:
SReST project, implemented under the Interreg DANUBE 2021-2027 program and co-financed by the European Union, aims to promote and enhance environmental sustainability in tourism and drive economic prosperity across the Danube region. By focusing on preserving biodiversity, celebrating food heritage and nurturing local identities, SReST seeks to enrich the tourism landscape and promote the concept of "slow food" tourism. This approach involves immersing visitors in the exploration of gastronomic traditions and fostering connections with the communities that protect them. The overarching objective is to create new employment opportunities, enhance economic resilience and appeal of rural areas and drive social transformation towards a more sustainable future.
The project total value is 1.540.470,00 EUR out of which 1.232.376,00 EUR is EU funded and the rest of 308.094,00 EUR is partners` contribution.
