FOST INNO – Fostering tourism innovation system in Adriatic-Ionian Region
Project Focus
The FOST INNO project (Interreg ADRION) aims to enhance the long-term competitiveness of the Adriatic-Ionian area by improving innovation capacity in sustainable tourism. The project develops strategic frameworks and establishes innovation incubators to foster creativity. Key objectives include extending the tourist season, improving service quality, and creating new jobs through increased knowledge transfer between businesses, academia, and institutions.
From January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2020, SASS (School of Advanced Social Studies) is involved in the FOST INNO project, implemented under the Interreg ADRION program. The project’s goal is to promote an innovative tourism system in the Adriatic-Ionian region.
The FOST INNO (Fostering tourism innovation system in Adriatic-Ionian Region) project, funded under the Interreg V-B ADRION program, promotes economic, social, and territorial cohesion for the benefit of over 70 million people in the region.
Project Team:
- Project Lead: Prof. Dr. Matej Makarovič
- Project Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Andrej Raspor
- Technical and Quality Manager: Mag. Jasmina Jakomin
- Researcher: Tjaša Peršič
Goals & Purpose
General Objective: To improve and ensure the long-term competitiveness of the Adriatic-Ionian area by strengthening innovation capacity in sustainable tourism. The primary intervention objective is to change the current practice of insufficient innovation incentives by developing strategic frameworks, establishing network structures, and increasing knowledge transfer between businesses, users, academia, and institutional stakeholders.
Common Challenges: The project addresses shared challenges in the program area, such as extending the tourist season, enhancing quality in tourism, and creating new, high-quality jobs by boosting innovation in sustainable tourism.
Purpose: To develop a strategy and establish innovation incubators to foster innovation in sustainable tourism across the Adriatic-Ionian region. Furthermore, the project aims to transfer results into policy and practice to help resolve tourism issues common to all participating partner countries.
Target Groups & Partnership
Target Groups:
- Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
- Universities and Research Centres
- Tourism Institutions
- Regional and Local Authorities
Project Partners:
- Lead Partner: University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management (Croatia)
- School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica (Slovenia)
- RRA Severna Primorska: Regional Development Agency Ltd. Nova Gorica (Slovenia)
- Municipality of Perugia (Italy)
- Molise Region (Italy)
- Center of Excellence for Development and International Projects of Zenica-Doboj Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- University of Shkodër “Luigj Gurakuqi” (Albania)
- Municipality of Tivat (Montenegro)
Official Website: https://fostinno.adrioninterreg.eu/
Novice:
The first meeting, the so-called “kick-off meeting,” took place on January 18 and 19, 2018, in Opatija. The meeting introduced the cooperation model between project partners and the main objective of the project: the exchange of knowledge to promote innovation in sustainable tourism within the Adriatic-Ionian region. SASS was represented by Dr. Andrej Raspor, who outlined the research process to be carried out in the project’s first work package.
On May 15, 2018, the School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica hosted the first workshop as part of the project “Fostering tourism innovation system in Adriatic-Ionian Region,” implemented under the Interreg ADRION program.
More than 30 representatives from the Goriška statistical region’s tourism sector (municipalities, businesses, private individuals, NGOs) participated. The objective is to change the current practice of insufficient incentives for innovation in sustainable tourism. Participants shared their opinions and views through various activities, forming a draft of starting points for further discussion. The workshop was led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Andrej Raspor, who has extensive experience in the business and tourism sectors.
The main finding was that the current state of sustainable tourism in Slovenia is still unsatisfactory and requires improvement. According to stakeholders, key deficiencies include a lack of local strategy and poor networking at local, regional, and national levels. There is a strong desire for more emphasis on innovative and sustainable tourism products.
This workshop represents the first step in forming a joint strategy, raising stakeholder awareness, and establishing a network and a set of pilot projects for the Adriatic-Ionian region. Alongside SASS, the Regional Development Agency of Northern Primorska also participates as a project partner from Slovenia.
For additional information, please contact: tjasa.persic@fuds.si.
On Tuesday, July 10, 2018, the 2nd Strategy Preparation Workshop for fostering sustainable tourism innovations was held at the Faculty’s headquarters, organized by the project partner RRA Northern Primorska. Key stakeholders from the field of sustainable tourism innovations continued their work on developing the strategy and action plan. The workshop was led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Andrej Raspor.
On Saturday, Sept 22, 2018, as part of the 10th Social Science Conference at SASS, the first local event of the FOST INNO project was held. The keynote speaker, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Andrej Raspor, emphasized the project’s importance in striving for long-term growth in sustainable tourism through innovation. The project aims to create a long-term transfer of knowledge to resolve tourism challenges common to all partners in the region.
Innovation, creativity, sustainability, and economy. These were the keywords of the “Urban Ecosystems for Innovation” (Ecosistemi urbani per l’innovazione) event held on Friday, Oct 12, at Barton Park Perugia. The event showcased best practices of innovation born in Perugia, Italy, and its sister city, Seattle, USA. The Slovenian project team (SASS and RRA SP) also attended.
In collaboration with RRA SP and local actors, we have prepared the Action Plan for the leading destination of Nova Gorica and the Vipava Valley. The plan contains guidelines and tasks for fostering sustainable tourism innovations in the region.
As part of the project Fostering Tourism Innovation System in the Adriatic-Ionian Region (FOST INNO), we cordially invite you to attend an online seminar in English on:
Monday, January 21, 2019, at 1:30 PM.
Topic: “The Use of Open Innovation in Co-Creating Sustainable Tourism Strategy”
This is the second in a series of six webinars designed to introduce stakeholders to innovative activities in the field of sustainable tourism development. You are invited to participate in an interactive discussion, share your experiences and best practices, and engage in knowledge exchange that will generate new ideas and stimulate the development of innovative, sustainable tourism products. One webinar will be held in each participating country: Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Montenegro.
Access Link:* [FOST INNO webinar]
The webinar will last one hour. To facilitate organization, please confirm your attendance by January 18, 2019
For additional information regarding the event, please contact: tjasa.persic@fuds.si
Instructions: To access the webinar, please log in as a “Guest”. If you have not used the Adobe Connect platform before, you will need to install the Adobe Connect Add-In provided by the software. We suggest completing the necessary installation steps well in advance of the event’s start time.
As the project enters its final phase, the 4th Steering Committee meeting was held from July 4–5 in Shkodra, Albania, hosted by the University of Shkodër “Luigj Gurakuqi.” We focused on measures to ensure the success of the pilot program, which will test the two best sustainable tourism innovations for the Adriatic-Ionian area. Testing will begin in Slovenia and then be transferred to other participating countries.