On 8 June 2026, Dr Ives Vodanović Lukić participated in the international Tourism & Arts Webinar, organised by the School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism (ESGHT) of the University of Algarve and the CiTUR research centre in Portugal.
During the webinar, she presented a paper entitled “Experiencing Place through Arts Festivals: Insights from Croatia”, focusing on the role of arts festivals in placemaking processes and in shaping visitors’ sense of place. Based on research conducted at five arts festivals in small Croatian communities, the study demonstrated that festivals not only draw on existing place characteristics but also foster the development of new spatial, symbolic, and social meanings that contribute to local identity formation and destination distinctiveness. The findings further highlighted the importance of small-scale festivals in strengthening visitors’ connection to place and reshaping perceptions of smaller destinations.
The webinar brought together researchers from Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, and South America and explored the relationship between tourism and the arts. Topics included placemaking, cultural tourism, arts festivals, creative practices, and the sustainable development of destinations.