Sunce has completed a year-long project titled Career for Green, Digital, and Sustainable Tourism. The project aimed to develop sustainable tourism through the education of students, pupils, and tourism professionals, with a special focus on zero-waste principles, the Dalmatia Green certificate, and digitalization. We prepared a detailed overview of the project activities, results, and significance for the future of sustainable tourism in Croatia.
Project activities and educational program
The project activities were focused on preparing and implementing a comprehensive educational program for the students of High School Braća Radić in Kaštel Štafilić, students of the Faculty of Economics in Split, and relevant stakeholders in the tourism sector.
As a part of the activities for pupils, a workshop plan was developed, which included an introductory lecture and a series of interactive and field workshops. Pupils from High School Braća Radić in Kaštel Štafilić participated in one introductory lecture and two interactive workshops on digital marketing, as well as three field workshops on sustainable tourism and zero-waste principles. The workshops were held at the ŠKMER association and the restaurants Makarun and Pandora Greenbox. Through this program, the pupils gained practical knowledge that will help them in their future careers in tourism.
Students of the Faculty of Economics in Split were involved in a service-learning program (in Croatian: “program društveno-korisnog učenja” or “DKU“), where they participated in the development of the education program for pupils, the promotion of sustainable tourism, and the creation of a digital map of sustainable content in Split, with a total of 160 hours of work. This approach enabled students to acquire concrete skills and knowledge and contribute to the community through their engagements.
Education of stakeholders and strengthening sustainability
Educating and familiarizing relevant stakeholders with the benefits of sustainable tourism and hospitality offerings was a key component of the project. Several public events and presentations on sustainable tourism and the Dalmatia Green program were organized and held. These activities included a specialized training for restaurateurs on zero-waste business principles at the ŠKMER association. Restaurateurs gained valuable knowledge on how to reduce single-use plastic and implement sustainable practices in their businesses. These practices were later applied in the restaurants Makarun and Pandora Greenbox.
The visibility of the program was also significantly increased, thanks to publications in local media and on social networks, as well as participation in the Kongres obiteljskog smještaja organized by Hrvatska udruga obiteljskog smještaja at the Radisson Blu Resort in Split.
Cetina Canyon clean-up action
As the culmination of the project, in collaboration with Garnier cosmetics, Cetina Canyon clean-up action was organized. This public event aimed to clean the canyon of litter, with the participation of employees from Sunce and Garnier, as well as pupils from High School Braća Radić and students from the Faculty of Economics in Split. The main goal of this event was to raise awareness about the need for sustainable tourism and environmental conservation. Twelve students and pupils participated in the event, significantly contributing to the cleanliness of the canyon. The types and quantities of collected litter were determined by the Protocol for Organizing Clean-up Actions in the Marine Environment and Coastal Area on the Territory of the Republic of Croatia, the Collection and Processing of Data of Marine Litter, and the broader public was informed about the importance of this action through internet portals, television, and radio.
Conclusion and future steps
The Career for Green, Digital, and Sustainable Tourism project demonstrated that it is possible to integrate sustainable practices into the tourism sector through the education and engagement of young people. Through various activities, from theoretical and practical workshops to public events and the creation of digital resources, the project laid the foundation for the further development of sustainable tourism in the region.
The successful implementation of the project enabled pupils, students, and tourism professionals to acquire new knowledge and skills, and ensured the visibility and strengthening of the Dalmatia Green program. These results show that investing in education and sustainability can bring long-term benefits to the community and the environment.
Sunce and its partners, including Infozona, the Tourist Board of Split, the Faculty of Economics in Split, High School Braća Radić in Kaštel Štafilić, and Makarun d.o.o., will continue to work on promoting sustainable tourism, aiming for Dalmatia to become a model region that successfully balances tourism development and the preservation of natural resources.