Cross-Border Round Table: shaping the future of the Gastro-Diplomacy Network
GUSTI project is pleased to invite stakeholders from Croatia and Italy to take part in the GUSTI Cross-Border Round Table & Panel Discussion, which will take place online on 11 September 2026 at 10:00 AM.
Organised within the GUSTI project, the event will bring together project partners and stakeholders involved in gastronomy, sustainable tourism, local and regional development, education, and the valorisation of gastronomic and cultural heritage.
The Round Table represents an important step in shaping the Cross-Border Gastro-Diplomacy Network being developed within GUSTI. The project promotes sustainable gastro-cultural tourism through cooperation between Croatian and Italian territories, with a particular focus on local products and traditions, sustainable destination management, stakeholder capacity building and the development of new integrated tourism offers.
From regional experiences to joint cross-border strategies
Designed as an interactive online panel discussion and qualitative focus group, the Round Table will provide an opportunity to assess the opportunities, challenges and future development prospects of the Gastro-Diplomacy Network.
The discussion will focus on four main thematic areas:
- Operating principles of the Network, including cross-border cooperation, flexibility and the concept of coopetition – cooperation between destinations while maintaining their distinctive identities;
- Stakeholder cooperation, connecting actors from education and knowledge development, local producers and tourism businesses, destination management organisations and public authorities;
- Local, cross-border and international development, exploring how local culinary and cultural assets can become part of wider cross-border and international tourism offers;
- Future joint activities and priorities, identifying concrete actions that can support the Network beyond the completion of the GUSTI project.
Participants will be invited to share their experiences and perspectives on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats affecting the development of the Network. The discussion findings will subsequently be synthesised through a TOWS Matrix, transforming stakeholder input into strategic recommendations and future action priorities for the long-term sustainability of the Cross-Border Gastro-Diplomacy Network.
The approach directly reflects the wider objectives of the Interreg Italy-Croatia Programme to strengthen sustainable and innovative tourism, develop thematic networks and integrated tourism offers, engage local stakeholders and enhance the valorisation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage through cross-border cooperation.
Who should participate?
The event is particularly relevant for stakeholders involved in previous GUSTI activities and for organisations interested in sustainable gastronomy and tourism, including local food and agricultural producers, family farms, hospitality providers, tourism organisations and DMOs, educational institutions, tour guides, travel agencies, public authorities and other local and regional actors.
The event will be held online and in English.
Date: 11 September 2026 Time: 10:00 AM Format: Online Working language: English
Join the discussion
Stakeholders from across the GUSTI territories are invited to participate, contribute their experience and help identify priorities for the future of sustainable gastro-cultural cooperation between Italy and Croatia.
Registration link: coming soon.
Stay tuned to the GUSTI project website for further information and access details.