On this occasion, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Sandra Herman visited the region. The project was briefly presented by Kristina Sočev, Assistant Director of the Koprivnica-Križevci County Tourist Board, Mario Fuček, Director of the Đurđevac Tourist Board, Vjekoslav Maletić, Mayor of Ferdinandovac and Director of the Drava Sands Tourist Board Alen Janći.
Kristina Sočev thanked the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the State Secretary for their support and approval of the project as a joint venture between the Tourist Board of the City of Đurđevac and the Tourist Board Dravski peski, as well as for the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports with which one piece of equipment was purchased.
”We wanted to show that our county is rich in tourist offer that is not sufficiently recognized. The coronavirus pandemic showed that outdoor activities are the future and an opportunity to develop continental tourism”, said Sočev, adding that the tourist communities of Pitomača and Virovitica-Podravina County and Nippy Adventures also participated in this project.
Alen Janći explained that the new tourist product will include the promotion of rafting, quads, bicycles of the beautiful Bilogora area, which are united in the name of Adventure Podravina.
”We are sure that it will experience success and increase the number of arrivals and overnight stays in our tourist area”, said Janći.
Mario Fuček from the Đurđevac Tourist Board expressed his satisfaction at the fact that the representatives of several tourist boards put their heads together.
”We did it in order to show a different side of Podravina because it is adorned with gentleness, and we see in it the wild side that is also beautiful to show. We have a wealth of tangible and intangible cultural heritage and while we put it all on a pile Podravina really has a lot to show ” said Fuček.
Secretary of State Sandra Herman supported the idea of forming a partnership around tourism product.
”This is an excellent good practice example of joint ventures and why they are important”, said Herman and announced that the funds will be paid this year, and all those who formed joint ventures to pursue their projects will, according to the new rules be able to apply to the public call for project fundinf at the end of the year.
”We already feel and can experience that joint ventures regarding such projects have a future. Here, the result can already be seen, congratulations. Now we have to further promote your efforts and put it on the tourist market”, she said, emphasizing that Koprivnica-Križevci County will get its place in the Discover Rural Croatia campaign by the end of the year.
With the apperance of the coronavirus, Podravina is increasingly turning to domestic, Croatian guests who want to explore the interior, the continental part of Croatia and foreign tourists.
”We will find additional funds for your events and top events for which we did not know at the beginning of the year whether they will take place. The continent is one of the underdeveloped areas, this year we have provided almost 40 million kuna to help underdeveloped areas, we want a balanced and stronger development of tourism, which brings the development of overall tourism in Croatia”, said Herman.
For more tourism news from Croatia, check out the dedicated TCN travel section.
