Gorski Kotar receives global Destination Experience Award

Gorski Kotar has become the first destination in Croatia and one of only three worldwide to receive the Destination Experience Award. The honor was presented at the Green Destinations and Good Travel Alliance global conference on October 29, 2026.

The award recognizes the successful completion of a sustainability validation process based on 41 criteria from the Good Travel Alliance model. This process evaluates key components of sustainable development, including the impact of tourism on the environment, society, culture, and the economy.

Petar Hrg, director of the Gorski Kotar Tourist Board, stated that the award confirms efforts to protect and promote cultural and natural heritage through responsible destination management. The other two global recipients of this specific award are Kaçkar in Turkey and the Yilan coast in Taiwan.