{"id":3829,"date":"2025-05-12T20:13:51","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T18:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iskriva.net\/conference-2025\/"},"modified":"2025-06-20T13:37:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T11:37:40","slug":"conference-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iskriva.net\/en\/conference-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Conference 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Inclusive Tourism as a Development and Investment Opportunity in the Danube Region 2025<\/span><\/h1><\/h1><\/div>

Promoting accessibility, resilience,
\nand regional development through
\ninclusive tourism<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS <\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

About the Conference<\/strong><\/h2><\/h2><\/div>

The international conference Inclusive Tourism as a Development and Investment Opportunity in the Danube Region<\/em> will bring together stakeholders from across the Danube region to explore how inclusive tourism can serve as a driver for sustainable development, investment in the built environment, and social innovation.<\/p>\n

The event will focus on the role of accessibility and participation in shaping resilient communities, and on the importance of inclusion in both tourism infrastructure and service design.<\/p>\n

Organised by Institute Iskriva<\/strong> in cooperation with key regional and EU partners, the conference builds on the work of several EU-funded projects, including IBC, CAST<\/strong>,\u00a0 Spaces4All<\/strong>, ICTr-CE<\/strong>, and NONA<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Relive the conference moments<\/h2><\/h2><\/div>

Explore highlights from the event, including photos, videos, and speaker presentations, on our dedicated page.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

VIEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CONFERENCE<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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Conference Schedule<\/h2><\/h2><\/div>

09:00 <\/b>\u2013 Registration and coffee<\/span><\/p>\n

09:30<\/b> \u2013 <\/span>Main part of the conference <\/b>(Glass hall, ground floor)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Keynote 1<\/span><\/i>: Irina Cozma, European Strategy for the Danube Region<\/span><\/p>\n

Keynote 2: <\/span><\/i>Ur\u0161ka Dolinar, Institute Iskriva<\/span><\/p>\n

Donation of portable hearing loops<\/span><\/p>\n

Keynote 3<\/span><\/i>: Mihael Fend, Styrian Thermen&Vulkanland<\/span><\/p>\n

Keynote 4: <\/span><\/i>Kristy Durso, Travel Ability Insider<\/span><\/p>\n

11:45 <\/b>\u2013 Coffee break<\/span><\/p>\n

12:15<\/b> \u2013 <\/span>Panel discussions<\/b> (in 3 parallel sessions)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Panel 1:<\/span><\/i> Tourism Investment for Locals and Visitors (Blue hall, ground floor)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Panel 2:<\/span><\/i> How to Develop and Sell the Danube Region as an Inclusive and Regenerative Destination (Glass hall, ground floor)<\/span><\/p>\n

Panel 3:<\/span><\/i> Innovation and Knowledge for Inclusive Tourism – Best international practices (White hall, second floor)<\/span><\/p>\n

13:50<\/b> \u2013 <\/span>Conclusion of the conference <\/b>(Glass hall, ground floor)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Takeaway messages from panels\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Launch of the Scan right initiative<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Conslusion and a thank you to sponsors<\/span><\/p>\n

14:30 <\/b>\u2013 Lunch and networking<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Programme Overview<\/strong><\/h2><\/h2><\/div>

The conference will begin with an informal gathering and continue with a full-day programme that combines key note presentations, roundtable discussions, and opportunities for networking.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Evening Gathering \u2013 Monday, 2 June 2025<\/h3><\/h3><\/div>

18:00 \u2192 Informal networking gathering and project marketplace<\/strong><\/p>\n

To warmly welcome all speakers and participants, we invite you to join us for an informal evening gathering<\/strong> on Monday, 2 June at 18:00<\/strong> at Terme Vivat.<\/p>\n

This relaxed pre-conference event will feature a tasting of awarded sparkling wines and traditional Slovenian food<\/strong>, offering a flavourful introduction to the Pomurje region.<\/p>\n

Alongside the social programme, we will also host a Project Marketplace<\/strong> \u2014 a space where EU-funded projects will be presented through posters and materials, highlighting their key results and contributions to inclusive tourism and regional development. This is a valuable opportunity to explore potential synergies, learn from practical experiences, and initiate new connections across initiatives.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Conference and Networking \u00a0\u2013 Tuesday, 3 June 2025<\/h3><\/h3><\/div>

09:00\u201314:30 \u2192 Conference programme<\/strong><\/p>\n

The main conference will feature keynote speeches, expert contributions, and practical examples from the field of inclusive tourism. Speakers will address the role of accessibility in tourism investment, service quality, and community development. Particular focus will be placed on the relevance of inclusive tourism for rural and remote areas in the Danube region.<\/p>\n

As part of the programme, a special moment will be dedicated to the official handover of portable induction hearing loop systems<\/b> to healthcare institutions in the Pomurje region. This symbolic act, organised in collaboration with the CE-Spaces4All project, highlights the importance of practical steps toward greater accessibility in public services.<\/p>\n

14:30\u201316:30 \u2192 Lunch and networking <\/strong><\/p>\n

Following the morning conference sessions, all participants are invited to stay for a networking lunch<\/strong>, served between 14:30 and 16:30<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This time is reserved for strengthening connections<\/strong>, exchanging reflections, and continuing conversations in an informal and friendly setting.
\nThe networking lunch is an integral part of the programme, designed to build relationships among stakeholders from different sectors and countries of the Danube region.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Keynote Sessions:<\/h3><\/h3><\/div>
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Irina Cozma<\/h2><\/div>
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European Strategy for the Danube Region \u2013 Priority Area 3 Culture and Tourism;<\/em>
\nMinistry of Development, Public Works and Administration, Romania <\/em>
\nTopic: European Strategy for the Danube Region supporting projects for social inclusion via culture, tourism and regional development<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Kristy Durso<\/h2><\/div>
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Travel Ability Insider, USA
\nTopic: Culture of inclusivity for accessible travel<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Mihael Fend<\/h2><\/div>
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Styrian Thermen&Vulkanland, Austria
\nTopic: Styrian Thermen&Vulkanland \u2013 showcasing 30 years of development into authentic and thermal rural destination<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Ur\u0161ka Dolinar<\/h2><\/div>
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Iskriva, Institute for Development of Local Potentials, Slovenia
\nTopic: Experiences and ambitions for developing a tourism-business ecosystem within the only 5-country UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube<\/em><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Donation of portable induction hearing loop systems:<\/b><\/h3>\n

As part of the conference programme, a special moment will be dedicated to the official handover of portable induction hearing loop systems<\/b> to regional healthcare institutions in Pomurje. The donation is made possible by the Geodetic Institute of Slovenia<\/b> in the framework of the CE-Spaces4All project<\/b>, and highlights the importance of concrete, practical steps toward greater accessibility \u2014 not only in tourism, but across public services and everyday life.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Panel Discussions:<\/h3><\/h3><\/div>
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Panel 1: Tourism Investment for Locals and Visitors<\/h2><\/div>
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Panel leader:<\/em> <\/strong>Zdravko Kozinc (Institute Iskriva, Slovenia)
\nPanelists:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n