Enhancing Sustainable Tourism through Cross-Border Cooperation: Insights from Interreg Projects Croatia and Neighbouring Countries (2014-2020)

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to assess the alignment of tourism stakeholders and institutions in Croatia with the strategic priorities set out in key tourism development strategies. Specifically, this evaluation focuses on identifying the extent to which cross-border cooperation projects funded by the Interreg programme between 2014 and 2020 have led to innovations in sustainable tourism products and practices. Additionally, the study aims to determine the primary country with which Croatia collaborates for these sustainable tourism initiatives. Methodology: The research employs quantitative methods to analyse data collected from the First Annual Report on Innovative Actions in Sustainable Tourism within the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region. This report serves as the primary source of information, detailing projects that emphasize innovation in sustainable tourism, particularly those involving Croatian partners as leaders or team members. Results: A total of 50 sustainable tourism-related projects were identified within the Interreg program during the specified period. Notably, the majority of these projects were conducted in collaboration with Slovenia. Of the total projects, 54% resulted in innovations pertaining to sustainable tourism, with 41% focused on developing new tourism products and the remaining 59% addressing various innovations, including accommodation and new technologies. Conclusion: The findings indicate that cross-border cooperation, particularly between Croatia and Slovenia, has significantly contributed to innovations in sustainable tourism. The study highlights the importance of such collaborations in promoting sustainable practices and regional integration. Future research should explore broader implications and identify potential barriers to enhancing the effectiveness of cross-border tourism initiatives.