"Back to the game" as part of destination management: Tourists are spontaneously joining in, and Dalmatia is bringing back street noise

After an exceptionally successful first year, the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board (TZ SDŽ) and the Faculty of Kinesiology (KIFST) in Split continue their cooperation on the project "Back to the game", for which representatives of the aforementioned institutions are today, Ivana Vladović, director of the SDŽ Tourist Board, and Frane Žuvela, Dean of KIFST, signed a cooperation agreement.

This year's edition of the event will be held during Mayand are planned destinations Makarska, Hvar, Bol, Imotski and SplitThe project aims to revive public spaces through forgotten games such as jumping rope, jumping jacks, tug of war, jumping in sacks, throwing pictures, tumbling and others, while encouraging physical activity in children.

The main objective of the event is bring life back to the squares and streets, but also to respond to the contemporary challenges of a sedentary lifestyle and excessive use of technology in children. Experts and students of kinesiology have noticed that today's children, due to excessive use of technology, are losing basic motor skills.

Through "Back to the Game", children, in addition to developing coordination and dexterity, are socialized in the most natural way possible, through a game that is not a strictly structured sport, but pure fun.

"We are extremely honored to continue this successful cooperation with the Tourist Board after last year, which exceeded all expectations. Our goal is to involve students in real projects, but also to ensure that the traditional game remains part of the identity of our destination. We also plan to introduce the course "Traditional Dalmatian Games" into our curriculum. Information from the field shows us that today's children simply do not know these games. It is up to us to pass on this knowledge to them, to show them and teach them, and the children will then naturally spread the game further through their streets and neighborhoods." said Žuvela.

Vladović emphasized the importance of the event for the local population, but also for Dalmatia as a tourist destination. 

"Talking about Dalmatia without children, songs and our street hustle and bustle is simply not the story we want to tell. We want to offer tourists an authentic experience of the Mediterranean, that "easy" way of life in the open air, and that is impossible without children's play. Our goal is to get children away from technology and show them how wonderful it is to grow up in Dalmatia with a rubber band, rope or balloon. Last year, the turnout from Trogir and the islands to Zagora was phenomenal, and what pleased us most was that parents and older generations participated in the games with the same enthusiasm. When a tourist sees such liveliness and joy on our streets, he takes home the most beautiful possible image of our destination", Vladovic said.

Frane Žuvela, Dean of KIFST: Tourists spontaneously join the games

A member of the Faculty of Kinesiology (KIFST) in Split says that last year's edition clearly showed that Dalmatian squares and streets once again need liveliness, content, and that recognizable "shush" that was once a normal part of everyday life.

"Our squares have fallen silent, and with them has disappeared that authentic image of the Mediterranean in which children and play were the heart of every place.", Žuvela points out, adding that this is precisely why they do not see "Return to Play" just as a sports and entertainment event, but as a concrete measure. destination management.

Although the event is primarily designed as content for the local population, it is emphasized that this automatically creates additional content for tourists staying in the destination at that time.

"Last year we witnessed tourists spontaneously joining the games and many of them recognizing these games from their childhood.", states Žuvlea, reminding us that Dalmatia has always been a destination that lives outdoors, in squares and streets.

Given the pleasant climate and warm temperatures throughout most of the year, he sees great potential for such events to be held more frequently and outside of peak season. "When a guest sees that the streets are full of joy and bustle, that the local population is enjoying themselves and that the city is 'breathing', then they get a true experience of Dalmatia and the Mediterranean way of life. That is the image they take home, the image of a destination that cares about the quality of life and preserves its tradition in the most beautiful way possible, through play."", he concludes.

This very image, however, is increasingly rare today, even among children growing up in these areas.

Žuvela warns that during last year's event, they noticed difficulties that were once unimaginable: children, he says, have problems with rhythmic actions and coordination, such as turning while jumping over a rubber band or controlling their bodies when turning while jumping, movements that used to come instinctively, but now pose a problem for them.

As he points out Hrvoje Karnincic, a professor from KIFTS sees the reasons why children today have difficulties in the changes in children's everyday lives because ""A child's neurological development is directly linked to play, and play is no longer a natural part of the day."

"A child analyzes the shape, texture, and color of a toy, activating key brain centers. Withdrawing from such stimulation directly slows cognitive progress. Free and spontaneous play, as numerous studies show, is essential for children's *cognitive, social, and physical development. Play is the primary means through which children develop intrinsic interests and skills, learn to make decisions, solve problems, learn self-control and respect rules, regulate emotions, make friends, and have fun. Over the past 50 years, free play with other children has decreased significantly, and there is **data indicating that anxiety, depression, and feelings of helplessness in children have increased during this period." Karninčić points out.

This change is very concretely visible on the ground.

Professor Karninčić states that today there are a large number of children who are not ready to enroll in first grade, so situations arise in which a child tries to "enlarge" a flower on paper with his finger, thinking that it is a screen.

"Children are increasingly attracted to computer games because they are designed to win more often, while in street play someone has to lose - and this is exactly what teaches children to resolve conflicts and deal with defeat from a very early age. He also warns of the wider consequences of replacing live games with digital content: a decrease in physical activity leads to an increase in fat tissue, weaker muscle development, and consequently weaker motor skills, which is why such programs have a value that goes beyond "animation" alone," Karninčić states, and in this context he also mentions the fact that in 2022, Internet gaming disorder was officially included in the fifth edition of the ***Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, with research indicating a connection with increased stress, aggression, and lack of empathy.

"Each destination has its own dynamics and space, so the team analyzes the terrain in advance, whether it's a waterfront, a city square, or a grassy area, and adapts the game concept to the surface and conditions. The event usually lasts a few hours, but everything is customizable and depends on the number of interested participants, with one rule that they don't change: the goal is that every child who comes gets an equal opportunity to participate and feel the spirit of the game." Žuvela points out.

In order for the project in the field to have a clear structure, but remain flexible enough for each destination, Žuvela explains that the team implementing the program consists of seven kinesiology students who have undergone training in the implementation and organization of the games, and at each location, as a rule, four students from the Faculty of Kinesiology in Split participate.

Just a student of kinesiology, Andrija Kuvacic He shared his experiences from last year's events. "Last year, the turnout was huge at all locations, the games brought together all generations, and tourists often joined in. In addition to the standard games like rubber bands, school balls, slija and tug-of-war, each place we visited also suggested its own local game from childhood. That is exactly our goal this year, to discover and promote the indigenous games of each new destination we visit.", said Kuvačić. 

This year, they have also made an important change in terms of timing. Instead of the summer months, The event is being moved to May., which Žuvela states has proven to be significantly better for several reasons.

"It turned out to be a much better time to organize, primarily because the temperatures are more comfortable for outdoor physical activity than in mid-July, and additionally because the school year is underway, which allows us to include a larger number of schools and children. The model is set up so that there is always the possibility of expanding and introducing new games. We are constantly researching and listening to feedback from the field in order to include even more forgotten activities." Žuvela concludes.

Photo: Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County

Sources:

* (Frost, JL A history of children's play and play environments: Toward a contemporary child saving movement(Routledge: 2010.)

** (Gray, P. The decline of play and the rise of psychopathology in children and adolescents. American Journal of Play 2011, 3, 443 – 463).

***(Exploring the interplay between Internet gaming disorder, Toxic Attitudes and Empathy in Digital Entertainment. Games and Culture 2023.)