On 18 and 19 December 2025, the team from Zavod Iskriva went on an experiential team-building trip to Nova Gorica and the Goriška Brda, where we explored the world of accessibility, blindness, and inclusive tourism through sight, touch, and smell. The two-day journey combined learning, hands-on experience, and team bonding, offering us a fresh perspective on places, people, and development opportunities.

Through an interactive experience at the Intermunicipal Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired Nova Gorica, we gained insight into the everyday challenges and potential of people with visual impairments, as well as the importance of perceiving space through non-visual senses. Our visit to the Municipality of Nova Gorica, where we also met with Mayor Samo Turel, and to Europe Park, a symbol of cooperation between Nova Gorica and Gorizia created as part of a cross-border revitalization within the framework of the European Capital of Culture, offered insights into accessibility as a development opportunity for cities and tourist destinations. At Klet Brda, we tested a future tourist product and experienced how tourism can go beyond the visual, offering visitors a unique and immersive experience.

On the second day, we explored the picturesque village of Šmartno in Goriška Brda and the Tactile Gallery in Nova Gorica, reflecting on how places with a strong local identity can become inclusive tourist destinations of the future. The team-building experience was not only an opportunity to connect, but also a shared learning journey that strengthened empathy, collaboration, and our commitment to creating a more accessible and inclusive society.