The 28th Tourism Discussions were held on 12 May 2026 at HKD Napredak in Zagreb under the title “Cultural Tourism in Croatia – Have We Forgotten What We Once Knew?”.
The introductory presentation and panel discussion were moderated by Dr. Ives Vodanović Lukić, and the panel participants were Vesna Jurić Bulatović, Dragana Lucija Ratković Aydemir, Rudi Grula, and Dr. Renata Tomljenović.
The discussion focused on how cultural tourism in Croatia has evolved from the first strategic frameworks developed in the early 2000s to the present day, when Croatia has more interpretation centres, restored heritage sites, museums, and local initiatives than ever before. Particular emphasis was placed on how these assets can be connected into a sustainable and meaningful development model for destinations and local communities.
The panel also addressed topics such as heritage interpretation, cooperation between the cultural and tourism sectors, the sustainability of restored heritage sites and newly developed cultural tourism products after the initial investment phase, and the transfer of knowledge and experience to new generations of professionals. It was concluded that the main challenge of cultural tourism today is no longer the creation of new content, but rather its better integration, long-term management, and the development of experiences that remain relevant beyond the initial investment cycle.
Following the discussion, participants visited the Museum of Travel, where the conversation on culture, interpretation, and the experience of place continued beyond the panel itself.
We would like to thank all panelists and participants for their valuable contributions and for an engaging discussion.