In the City Hall of the City of Rijeka, a ceremonial signing of the Agreement on the Association of Local Tourist Boards of the Rijeka Ring and the Municipality of Klana was held.
The agreement was signed by the presidents of the Tourist Board of the City of Rijeka, the Tourist Board of the City of Bakra, the Tourist Board of the City of Kastav, the Tourist Board of the City of Kraljevica, the Tourist Board of the Municipality of Čavle, the Tourist Board of the Municipality of Jelenje, the Tourist Board of the Municipality of Kostrena, the Tourist Board of the Municipality of Viškovo and the mayor of the Municipality of Klana.
This Agreement on the Association of Tourist Boards of Cities and Municipalities from the area of the Rijeka Ring and the Municipality of Klana regulates the way of cooperation with the aim of joint implementation of activities aimed at the project (marketing) association of the Tourist Boards of the Rijeka Ring and the Municipality of Klana.
The Law on Tourist Boards and the Promotion of Croatian Tourism, which entered into force on January 1, 2020. year, the possibility of association of tourist boards and local self-government units was given. The new legal framework gives special emphasis to the association of tourist boards so that they can monitor the needs of tourists at the level of a logical and unique tourist destination, and especially in directing their resources to raise the quality and connect tourist products in the area of the tourist destination. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports gave prior consent to the Agreement on the Association of Local Tourist Boards of the Ring of Rijeka and the Municipality of Klana.
Mayor of the City of Rijeka, Vojko Obersnel stated that “He welcomes this initiative, which is actually a continuation of the cooperation between cities and municipalities in the so-called The Rijeka ring, to remind you only of the bike path project. The syn-regional action of tourist boards made possible by the Act on Tourist Boards and the Promotion of Croatian Tourism, which the Croatian Tourist Board further enhances and stimulates, opens up the possibility of further refining the tourist offer, but also increasing the visibility of performances primarily on foreign tourist markets. With this joint action, we present ourselves as a unique tourist destination with a rich cultural and historical heritage. At the same time, tourism communities united in this way will be able to focus their resources on additional quality improvement and on connecting tourist products in the area of the entire tourist destination.
Engleski Director of the Tourist Board of Rijeka Gradaka, Petar Škarpa, stated that “The Tourist Board of Rijeka Ring and the Municipality of Klana have been actively cooperating since 2009. year In that period, numerous projects were realized that united and presented the tourist offer of the Ring of Rijeka in an extremely demanding tourist market. A website, a general prospectus that was distributed to numerous fairs and presentations, various promotional and informative materials, mobile applications and a number of other materials were implemented. The Bike Rijeka project, for which we received a special recognition from the UNWTO World Tourism Organization, should be highlighted. Excellent tourism results were achieved precisely through the synergy of everyone involved in the tourism product of the Ring of Rijeka. From the beginning of 2009. godine turistički promet na području Riječkog prstena povećan je 4 puta, s 236.000 noćenja ostvarenih 2009. in 2019 we ended the year with 924,000 overnight stays. With this today’s Agreement, we will further strengthen the cooperation of all tourist communities with the aim of strengthening the tourism sector in our area, redefine our joint activities and, in synergy with everyone involved in the tourism product, realize all the projects that await us in the “new normal”. I would also like to thank the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Croatian Tourist Board, the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, all the mayors and mayors of the towns and municipalities of the Rijeka Ring and the Klana Municipality for their support all these years, and especially the directors of the Rijeka Ring Tourist Boards for their excellent cooperation.”
The director of the Croatian Tourist Board, Kristjan Staničić , and the state secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Sandra Herman , addressed the audience via video link .
The director of HTZ Staničić also expressed his satisfaction with this project-marketing association, who emphasized that this cooperation will enable more efficient branding and positioning on the domestic and global tourist map. “With this, you will be able to more easily create your joint marketing plan, joint product development strategy, conduct joint education, represent common interests, but also more easily get money from the funds for projects and programs of the united tourist boards”, said Staničić, referring to previous examples of similar association on the island of Krk and Gorski Kotar.
The State Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Sandra Herman , emphasized the importance of this Agreement. The new Act on Tourist Boards and the Promotion of Croatian Tourism and the legal framework have made it possible to connect tourist boards that will operate according to the principle of modern management organizations of modern destination management. This will enable a better joint performance on the tourist market and will contribute to raising the quality of tourist products and services. She pointed out that this association is in favor of creating a quality tourist product and that the Ministry will continue to encourage such associations.
“We are extremely glad that the Tourist Boards of the Rijeka Ring are joining together following the new Law on Tourist Boards that came into force at the beginning of the year. The tourist boards of the Rijeka ring (Bakar, Rijeka, Kastav, Kraljevica, Čavle, Jelenje, Kostrena, Viškovo and Klana) will work together on the development of tourist products and promote the destination product of our region, since tourism knows no administrative borders. The Tourist Board of the City of Bakar is this year’s winner of the prestigious Golden Interstas 2020 international award, which will be awarded on November 13 at the 27th International Tourism Festival in Solin. This significant recognition is a confirmation to the Tourism Association of the City of Bakro for its significant contribution to the overall tourism of the City of Bakro, and thus to Croatia as a whole. Tomislav Klarić , president of the Tourist Board of the City of Bakar.
Dalibor Čandrlićthe president of the Tourist Board of the City of Kraljevica, stated that “each City, Municipality, each unit of local self-government, and there are 9 of them that signed the Association Agreement today, has its own particularities, uniqueness and unique features, its own separate values, beauties and points of recognition not only geographically, culturally and historically, but also in terms of tourism. These and so many differences in a relatively small space represent a real treasure trove, support, comparative advantage, trump card and potential and form a specific and desirable destination. At the same time, joint unique performance, integrated action, i.e. one coordinated synergistic activity will enable all of us to have a stronger performance, better visibility and a richer offer towards broadcasting markets. In this sense, as the mayor of Kraljevica, a city of rich historical heritage and cultural heritage, a city with tradition and tourism potential, I am extremely looking forward to today’s Agreement, which we are signing together with 8 other cities and municipalities of our wonderful region. Also, I would like to thank the Ministry of Tourism and Sports for the vision, proactivity and initiative that led to today’s signing, and especially the State Secretary Mr. Tonči Glavina for his cooperation, efficiency and understanding of our tourist needs.”
“With this agreement, we continue and improve the cooperation that has existed for years between the tourist communities of Rijeka and the Rijeka Ring. We hope that this will be another step that will mark the beginning of new activities, large projects that will improve the tourist offer, give greater recognition to the existing facilities, but also realize some completely new projects that will make our region even more attractive and pleasant for tourists and other visitors. . In particular, Kastav was also happy to be involved in projects involving cooperation between cities and municipalities, such as the successful Jerry Ricks Blues Festival. The old Kastava slogan “Let’s agree!” can absolutely be applied to tourism cooperation as well, because together we are stronger, and I believe that the relevant Ministry will also recognize this, so I expect the financial effect of the whole story. Matej Mostarac.
“The cooperation between the Tourist Boards of Rijeka and Rijeka Ring has been going on for many years. In the beginning, it was mostly seen through the coordination of the calendar of events so that each local manifestation would get its own media space and audience. There are also joint performances at international tourism fairs. Then this cooperation continued through various cultural and touristic projects such as Rijeka bike, Rijeka Trails, Putovima Frankopan, 27 nešodstava and Lungo mare. Recently, the Agreement on the co-financing of the large project Let’s connect with heritage was obtained, which is the most complex of all so far and in which the tourist boards will play a major role in promotion and visibility. By signing this Agreement, I hope that we will all work together even more on branding the destination, because that is the only way we can become recognizable on the international market. In addition, I believe that the announcements from the relevant Ministry will also come true, which will provide additional financial resources to the tourism associations united in this way, which we all need more than in these uncertain times. Together, we will more easily reach the desired goal, which is to better inform visitors, promote the destination and realize its full potential,” said the president of the Tourist Board of Čavle Municipality, Ivana Cvitan Polić.
“We welcome such initiatives of project association of tourist communities in our area, with the aim of strengthening creative and financial potential, creating joint attractive tourist products and better positioning of the destination, of which Kostrena is a part. Trends in tourism are changing and it is increasingly difficult to meet the demands and expectations of modern tourists, especially today, at a time when the whole world is struggling with a pandemic that has affected our habits, decisions, economy and tourism. With joint investments in the development of the destination, in interesting products and tourist infrastructure, I am sure that Kostrena will have a bright tourist future in which it will realize its full tourist potential,” said Dražen Vranić , president of the Tourist Board of Kostrena Municipality . Dražen Vranić.
Head of the Municipality of Klana, Željka Šarčević Grgić, she stated “The agreement on the association of Tourist Boards of Rijeka prsten and the Municipality of Klana regulates the way of cooperation with the aim of joint implementation of activities aimed at the project (marketing) association of tourist boards and the Municipality of Klana as a tourist destination “Ring of Rijeka”. Given that the Municipality of Klana does not have its own tourist association, I must emphasize that this is a commendable activity that shows that joint efforts and initiatives can greatly improve the development of tourism even in local self-government units that do not have their own tourist association. The municipality of Klana has recognized the importance of joint representation and association in order to improve the development of tourist activities, and I must emphasize that we have so far been involved in all the activities in which we jointly participated as the so-called “Riječki prsten”. I am sure that this association will have a good effect on the promotion of the activities that we carry out in our region, such as Glivijada and other gastronomic activities, as well as on the promotion of our Cultural evenings in Gradina, Rokova and other events. This association will help our beautiful region to find its place on the tourist map of Croatia, and give private renters the opportunity to stand out.”
“We are working hard on tourism branding of the Jelenje region through the Visit Jelenje platform. By the end of the year, the touristic communal infrastructure will be improved, and we support and accept any marketing activity that can help us in our development and our intention to make Jelenje a real weekend destination. After all, we consider the Ring of Rijeka a great tourist destination that has a lot to offer visitors. Therefore, the marketing association will certainly be a step forward, and we will definitely be stronger when applying for public invitations and tenders planned for that topic,” said the president of the Jelenje Municipality Tourist Board, Robert Marčelja . Robert Marčelja.
Sanja Udović, president of the Tourist Board of Viškovo Municipality, pointed out “how the Ring of Rijeka is a unique tourist region, rich in natural, historical and cultural diversity intertwined with urban and dynamic everyday life. This is precisely why the further promotion, development and improvement of the tourist products of the Rijeka Ring in order to successfully position themselves on the demanding tourist market is extremely important. This project association is a meaningful association of destinations that can achieve far better tourism results by working together, position themselves better on the market with joint higher quality branding, and create and develop new tourism products. By the end of 2022, we in Viškovo should have a modern Visitor Center and the Halubaj Bell Ringer’s House – a place where we will combine tradition, heritage, gastronomy, tourism, education, a place where the Halubaj bell ringers, whose annual procession has been on the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity for 10 years, will interpret the heritage of bell ringing in a striking way. Cultural heritage is an extremely valuable resource, and the bell-ringing tradition undoubtedly has great potential to create a widely recognized cultural-tourism product attractive on a wider national and global level.”
The project association of the Tourist Boards of the Rijeka Ring and the Municipality of Klana will surely achieve better visibility and recognizability of the destination on the tourist market.
