Italy and Croatia strengthen ties through gastro-diplomacy and tourism

Italy and Croatia are strengthening bilateral ties through culinary and tourism cooperation. In Dugo Selo, the “Stara jela z Dugog Sela” gastronomic event featured Italian culture and cuisine, supported by the Italian Embassy. The event included the inauguration of the “Italia Giardino del Mondo” exhibition and a dedicated day for Italian food, where hundreds of portions of pasta and focaccia were distributed alongside tastings of Grana Padano, Italian wines, and spirits.

In Dubrovnik, the final conference of the GUSTI project (Gastro UpScaled Tourist Itinerary in rural regions of Croatia and Italy) concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Cross-border Gastro Diplomacy Network. This initiative, funded by the Interreg Italy-Croatia 2021-2027 Program, aims to use food as a tool for international dialogue and territorial development. The delegation from Fasano, Italy, participated in the conference to solidify cross-border tourism cooperation between the two nations.