10th anniversary of the Croatian Rural Tourism Association celebrated 

The Croatian Rural Tourism Association celebrated its 10th birthday yesterday with a ceremony held at the Polytechnic in Križevci. 

In addition to members of the association from all over Croatia, the celebration also brought together representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Croatian Tourist Board, and other lovers of the Croatian countryside. 

After the introductory speeches, a short video, URTH Retrospective 2016-2026, created by students as part of their student internship, was shown. The celebration continued with two panel discussions: on the sustainable Croatian model of rural agritourism and the promotion of rural tourism, and a toast. 

" I would like to thank all partners, sponsors, donors, members, students and media who have supported our work over the past ten years. In the coming period, we want to encourage even greater networking of all those who want to develop rural tourism and work in partnership for the benefit and sustainability of rural Croatia. Therefore, on behalf of the Croatian Rural Tourism Association, I call on all stakeholders from the public, private and civil sectors at all levels to support us in the development of Croatian agritourism and rural tourism in general." he pointed out Zvonko Laitman, president of the association. 

Three awards were also presented to deserving individuals at the celebration. Anđelka Pejaković from the Advisory Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries received the award for the best civil servant, while British vlogger Paul Bradbury received the award for the digital promotion of Croatian agritourism and the association's members. The association's leader, Aleksandra Kuratko Pani, received the award for 10 years of dedicated, often volunteer work in the association.  The celebration ended with a toast, and the guests continued socializing with a folklore performance and local specialties in Čabraji. 

The Croatian Rural Tourism Association is a national association that brings together service providers, tourist boards, academic institutions, LAGs and other local associations, and citizens. More information about the association, membership, cooperation opportunities and donations is available on the national rural tourism portal idemonaselo.hr. 

Photo: Croatian Rural Tourism Association