In the period from September 5 to 10, a joint study visit was organized for 22 representatives of target groups and project partners to regions of importance for bird watching in Slovenia and Italy. The aim of the visit was to increase knowledge about examples of best EU practice in tourism with a focus on the management of tourist destinations and the use of bird watching as a unique tourist product.
During the visit, meetings were organized with the management of the regional tourist center Delta Po and Valle Canal Novo in Italy, and representatives of the Association for the Observation and Study of Birds of Slovenia with the aim of presenting the project and exchanging experiences related to the sustainable management of destinations. The visit included expertly guided tours by licensed birdwatching guides with whom the Punta Alberete and Vene di Bellocchio sites in the Commacchio region were visited, and joint tours of the Valle Canal Novo and Škocjanski Zatok nature reserves.
In addition to information about the benefits of bird watching for strengthening the sustainability of tourist destinations, the participants had the opportunity to learn more about different aspects of the involvement of local communities in the creation of a common tourist product.
This project activity was implemented by the project partner Development Association NERDA, within the Interreg IPA CBC Croatia Bosnia and Herzegovina Montenegro 2014 2020 co-financed by ERDF and IPA II funds of the European Union.