Italia-Croatia

As part of the dissemination and cooperation activities a Croatian delegation from the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula (UNIPU)—led by the team from the Faculty of Economics and Tourism "Dr. Mijo Mirković"—took part in a study visit to Italy from April 22 to 24, 2026. The primary objective of the visit was to closely study Italian examples of excellence and to understand how agri-food heritage can be transformed into a powerful driver for sustainable territorial development.

The rich and diverse program allowed the participants—a multidisciplinary group composed of academic staff, students, and experts from both the tourism and agri-food sectors—to engage directly with various Italian enterprises, ranging from major international trade fairs to historic family-run businesses.

During the study visit, the delegation made several key stops:

• MACFRUT (Rimini): a leading international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable sector, where the delegation gained first-hand insights into the latest technological innovations and global market trends.
• Mostra dei Vini (Veneto) and Weekend Strabiologico (Stra): two prestigious events that highlighted the deep connection between organic production, wine culture, and local community engagement.
• Cantina Salvan (Padova): A family-run agricultural business that provided a perfect, practical example of diversification. The winery demonstrated how a small enterprise can create added value by combining traditional wine production with experiential tourism activities, such as guided tours and targeted tastings.

The ultimate value of this initiative lied in its strong networking component. The Croatian academics and future professionals had the unique opportunity to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and build connections with local Italian producers, exhibitors, and event organizers across different sectors.