Pannon EGTC

The CROSSDEST – Cross-border destination development for inclusive and sustainable tourism in the Slovenian-Hungarian border region aims to help destinations in the region obtain internationally recognized sustainability certifications, while also helping local service providers and attractions develop in the direction of green and accessible tourism.

Four cities – Hévíz, Sárvár, Muraszombat and Lendva – are participating in the project, supported by three professional partners, Innotime Hungary, GoodPlace and the Pannon EGTC.

The initial phase of the project focused primarily on laying the groundwork. The first version of the module integrated into the I-DEST digital platform has been completed, enabling the measurement and monitoring of the sustainability performance of tourism service providers and destinations. In addition, a unified tourism quality management system was jointly adopted to ensure that all stakeholders can develop based on comparable criteria, which also became an integral part of the above-mentioned digital platform. GoodPlace developed the methodological basis for the Good Travel Seal service provider training program, while Pannon EGTC mapped local producers in the cross-border Slovenian-Hungarian region and recorded them in a unified database similar to that used for tourism service providers. Based on the database, two local product workshops will be held (with 30-30 participants in Hungary and Slovenia, respectively), where tourism operators and local product producers can meet, tourism operators can learn about the producers’ products, and a joint network can be established. As a next step, based on the results of these forums, Pannon EGTC will develop a set of proposals aimed at integrating local products into tourism programs.

Meanwhile, the four cities have launched their own pilot developments based on local values: In Hévíz, the “picnic basket” concept showcases the offerings of local producers; in Lendava, the rebirth of the ice house and wine cellar is in preparation; Muraszombat is working on developing a loyalty card system; and in Sárvár, development has begun on the GoGreen application, which aims to shape attitudes in a playful way. These pilot projects also serve as tests for the aforementioned quality management and monitoring program.

Following the conclusion of the first phase, the project has reached new milestones. The first online briefing was held with 27 participants on the service provider training program, and the partners are already preparing for its in-person continuation. In terms of content development, the necessary translations have been completed, the first photo packages have arrived, and the registration of local producers in the digital system has begun. The partners agreed on the concept of a loyalty card that connects sustainable service providers and environmentally conscious visitors, and the audits necessary for small-scale developments have also begun.

CROSSDEST is therefore making tangible progress: unified quality management, digital solutions, service provider training, and projects showcasing local values together demonstrate how sustainable tourism can become an everyday reality in the region.

The source of the news can be found at this link.