27/04/2026

Cross-border collaboration at ADRINCLUSIVE pilot event in Novigrad-Cittanova

Our project continues to actively engage in cross-project cooperation within the Interreg Italy–Croatia Programme, reinforcing its commitment to knowledge exchange and the development of inclusive tourism solutions.

On 21 April 2026, a delegation from the University of Trieste (Lead Partner – UNITS), represented by Barbara Chiarelli and Ilaria Garofalo, took part in the ADRINCLUSIVE project’s pilot action presentation and site visit in Novigrad-Cittanova in Croatia.

A shared commitment to inclusive tourism

The ADRINCLUSIVE project focuses on creating innovative and sustainable tourism offers that promote equal access and social inclusion, particularly for people with dementia and cognitive impairments. This aligns closely with SITE’s mission to foster accessible and inclusive tourism ecosystems through Universal Design principles.

Participating in this event provided an important opportunity to explore how different projects under the same Programme are addressing common challenges in the Adriatic area, including:

• accessibility of tourism services
• social inclusion of vulnerable groups
• development of sustainable and innovative tourism models

Insights from the pilot action presentation

In the event, hosted at Hotel Maestral, participants had the opportunity to engage in an open exchange with project coordinators and experts, concluding the session with a networking moment involving all stakeholders.

The presentation highlighted practical solutions being tested to improve accessibility and inclusivity in tourism destinations, offering valuable inspiration and benchmarking opportunities for the SITE partnership.

The programme also included a site visit at Hotel Laguna, where participants had the chance to explore the implementation of pilot activities in a real tourism facility and better understand user-centered approaches for people with cognitive impairments. 

This hands-on experience was particularly relevant for SITE, which is currently developing and testing pilot actions aimed at improving communication, wayfinding systems, and public spaces accessibility across its project areas.

Strengthening Interreg synergies

The participation of SITE representatives in ADRINCLUSIVE activities reflects a broader strategic approach: building synergies among Interreg Italy–Croatia projects to maximise impact and capitalise on shared knowledge.

Cross-project collaboration allows partners to exchange methodologies and tools, compare pilot solutions and approaches and identify transferable practices. 

This is fully in line with the Programme’s objective of fostering stronger cooperation and integrated territorial development across the Adriatic region.

Towards a shared vision of inclusive destinations

By engaging in events like this, the SITE project strengthens its role within a wider ecosystem of initiatives working towards more inclusive and accessible tourist destinations, sustainable and socially responsible tourism development. 

The exchange of experiences with ADRINCLUSIVE represents another concrete step towards shaping a common, cross-border vision of tourism that is truly “for all”.