Project “KlimaPriPro” is implemented within the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021–2026 and is financed by European Union funds through the NextGenerationEU instrument.
VISIT TO BRUXSELLES
Researchers on the project, Vanja Krajinović and Antonio Vlahov, attended the presentation of key results, experiences, and recommendations of the NaTour4CChange project. The presentation was held on September 29, 2026, in the European Parliament in Brussels. The leading partner on the project is the Institut za turizam, and at the meeting the importance of including climate resilience in the planning, management, and financing of tourism, as well as the use of nature-based solutions (NbS) in response to climate risks, was highlighted. Three key messages from the discussion are:
1) Stronger governance is essential for climate-resilient tourism
2) Nature-based Solutions need long-term support to move beyond pilot projects
3) Islands and coastal regions need place-based solutions
ROUNDTABLE HELD: "CLIMATE CHANGE AND TOURISM - HOW CAN AND SHOULD DESTINATIONS ADAPT?"
The round table titled “Climate Change and Tourism – How Can and Should Destinations Adapt?” was successfully held. This event marked the highlight of the first year of our institutional research project.
Following the welcoming address by Professor Sanja Sever Mališ, Dean of the Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Zagreb, and an introductory presentation by Associate Professor Maja Klindžić, a project team member, a panel discussion took place. The panellists were Ivan Güttler, PhD, Director General of the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ); Professor Ivana Herceg Bulić from the Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb; Željko Šimek, Head of the Climate Change Adaptation Center Support Service at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition; Jelena Šobat, Head of the Sustainable Development Sector at the Ministry of Tourism and Sport; and Mira Zovko, PhD from the Institute for Tourism in Zagreb.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, and drawing on their extensive experience of climate change adaptation in tourism, the panellists emphasised the need for local action to mitigate climate change and ensure the success of adaptation efforts. They highlighted the importance of responsible and active participation in formulating clear, precise adaptation strategies that would support local tourism stakeholders in implementing various solutions. Based on this discussion, it is evident that intensive dialogue is needed to exchange experiences across disciplines and to accelerate and improve the efficiency of the adaptation process. Concrete actions, grounded in the insights gained so far regarding adaptation options, are required to ensure the continued, uninterrupted operation of the tourism sector.
The round table generated significant interest and attracted a large number of participants. The event also garnered media attention; in addition to a feature on Nova TV’s news programme, reports were published on the following portals:
O klimatskim promjenama razmišljamo tek kad se dogodi neki ekstrem! - Akademski
Može li turizam postati saveznik u borbi protiv klimatskih promjena? "Moramo ostati optimisti"
Kako će se hrvatski turizam prilagoditi na klimatske promjene? - Klimatski portal
The entire project team is extremely proud of the results achieved and the successful execution of this activity. We thank the panellists for their contribution to the discussion, the attendees for joining us, and the management of the Faculty of Economics for their support. We look forward to analysing and disseminating the research findings during the second year of the project!
PRELIMINARY RESEARCH RESULTS PRESENTED AT A SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE RMC 2026
At the international scientific conference "Regional Mountain Conference,” held from July 5 to 8, 2026, in Obergurgl (Austria), preliminary results of primary research among tourist boards were presented. Associate Professor Vanja Krajinović, as the single author of the abstract entitled “Climate Adaptation in Mountain Regions – How Can Justice Be Ensured and Awareness Raised Among Tourism Destinations?,” presented research findings related to tourist boards in mountainous Croatia. Among these findings, the lack of systematic climate change monitoring and the absence of climate change adaptation strategies stand out.
Participation in this conference not only disseminated preliminary results but also provided valuable insights into various aspects of climate change adaptation and potential strategies that the tourism system can use to adapt more effectively to new circumstances.
PROJECT TEAM HAS IMPLEMENTED THE FIRST PHASE RESEARCH
In June 2026, primary research within the tourist board system began. The research aims to collect information on awareness of and applied climate change adaptation strategies within the tourist board system in the Republic of Croatia. Specifically, the research objectives are to obtain an overview of tourist boards’ awareness of climate change, determine the existence of climate change adaptation strategies at the level of individual destinations, and assess their readiness to implement potential strategies for achieving adaptation and resilience of tourist destinations.
This research serves as the basis for developing a manual planned for the final year of the project’s implementation. The research population includes all 298 tourist boards in the Republic of Croatia.
PROJECT TEAM WORKING MEETINGS HELD
The project team held the first two working meetings, which launched project activities and divided responsibilities and tasks within the team. At the initial meeting, held on January 20, 2026, all members participated, and the project manager presented the project goals, the work and financial plan, and a detailed activity plan for the first year of implementation. At the second meeting, on February 19, 2026, a detailed plan for conducting primary research within the tourist boards was developed, and preparations began for organizing the Round Table planned for September 2026.
The project team approached the implementation of the project responsibly and enthusiastically, taking into account the importance of the topic and its own commitment to the topic and the goals ahead. A positive atmosphere within the team provides a strong foundation for successful cooperation and the fulfillment of all set goals in the KlimaPriPro project.
PARTICIPATION AT THE SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ICED 2025
The scientific conference, the International Conference on the Economics of Decoupling (ICED), was held in Zagreb in December 2025, where researchers from the KlimaPriPro project, Associate Professor Vanja Krajinović, Associate Professor Antonio Vlahov, and Associate Professor Maja Klindžić presented their paper under the title Tourism, Climate Change and Adaptation: Lessons Learned and a Path Forward. Associate Professors Klindžić and Krajinović presented the research results, emphasising the necessity of defining climate change adaptation strategies from the perspective of tourism destinations. They highlighted that the complexity of the tourism system and the large number of destination stakeholders require the development of adaptation strategies applicable at different stages of tourism destination development and in various climate conditions. The book of abstracts is available at the link.
GUEST APPEARANCE ON THE RADIO SHOW "CLIMATE CHALLENGE"
Associate Professor Vanja Krajinović was a guest on the radio show “Climate Challenge,” broadcasted on Croatian Radio. The show aired on the same day the contract for allocating funds to implement the project was signed (December 17, 2025). The discussion focused on how climate change affects tourist destinations, how the supply can and should be adapted to new circumstances, and how tourists respond to changing climate conditions. The project leader briefly presented the project’s goals and announced upcoming activities, which also provided media visibility for the project.
GRANT AGREEMENT SIGNING
The ceremonial signing of the agreement on the allocation of funds for the implementation of institutional projects under call IIP-581-2025 took place on 17 December 2025 at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb. The signatories of the agreement for the project Impact of Climate Change on Tourist Destinations: Assessing Sensitivity and Defining Adaptation Strategies – KlimaPriPro are the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, represented by Dean Professor Sanja Sever Mališ and Associate Professor Vanja Krajinović, project coordinator. The project is financed by the European Union (NextGeneration EU).
