Enhancing Sustainable Tourism through Cross-Border Cooperation: Insights from Interreg Projects Croatia and Neighbouring Countries (2014-2020)

Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems 23(2), 182-196, 2025 ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE TOURISM THROUGH CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION: INSIGHTS FROM INTERREG PROJECTS CROATIA AND NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES (2014-2020) Hermina Maras Benassi* University of Primorska, Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica Portorož, Slovenia DOI: 10.7906/indecs.23.2.9 Regular article Received: 31 May 2024. Accepted: 15 April 2025. ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of this article is to assess the alignment of tourism stakeholders and institutions in Croatia with the strategic priorities set out in key tourism development strategies. Specifically, this evaluation focuses on identifying the extent to which cross-border cooperation projects funded by the Interreg programme between 2014 and 2020 have led to innovations in sustainable tourism products and practices. Additionally, the study aims to determine the primary country with which Croatia collaborates for these sustainable tourism initiatives. Methodology: The research employs quantitative methods to analyse data collected from the First Annual Report on Innovative Actions in Sustainable Tourism within the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region. This report serves as the primary source of information, detailing projects that emphasize innovation in sustainable tourism, particularly those involving Croatian partners as leaders or team members. Results: A total of 50 sustainable tourism-related projects were identified within the Interreg program during the specified period. Notably, the majority of these projects were conducted in collaboration with Slovenia. Of the total projects, 54% resulted in innovations pertaining to sustainable tourism, with 41% focused on developing new tourism products and the remaining 59% addressing various innovations, including accommodation and new technologies. Conclusion: The findings indicate that cross-border cooperation, particularly between Croatia and Slovenia, has significantly contributed to innovations in sustainable tourism. The study highlights the importance of such collaborations in promoting sustainable practices and regional integration. Future research should explore broader implications and identify potential barriers to enhancing the effectiveness of cross-border tourism initiatives. KEY WORDS cross-border tourism, sustainable tourism, Interreg projects, Croatia CLASSIFICATION JEL: Z32 *Corresponding author, : ; -; *Obala 11a, SI-6320 Portorož, Slovenia Enhancing sustainable tourism through cross-border cooperation: insights from Interreg ... INTRODUCTION The European Union has acknowledged the critical role of tourism in advancing cross-border cooperation across its regions. According to the Association of European Border Regions [1] cross-border cooperation in Europe is guided by three key objectives. First, the concept of a “New Quality of Borders” seeks to transform borders into areas that foster understanding and tolerance while maintaining cultural diversity. This involves reducing barriers and fostering cooperation in sectors such as the economy, social affairs, health, and education, thereby contributing to European integration. Second, “Cross-Border Partnership and Sustainable Cooperation” emphasises the importance of a bottom-up approach, where partnerships among local, regional, national, and European actors help address regional challenges and promote sustainable development. Lastly, “Territorial Integration and Political Will” focuses on enhancing the geographical integration of cross-border regions by eliminating obstacles and diminishing the relevance of borders. This objective relies on the political commitment of national and regional authorities to create equal living conditions and improve mobility across Europe. Cross-border tourism, characterised by its complex set of benefits and challenges, holds a central role in contemporary tourism systems, enabling diverse economic, cultural, and social interactions across international boundaries. This sector plays a critical part in the global tourism economy by driving economic grow, facilitating intercultural exchange, and promoting regional cooperation. However, effective management is essential to mitigate its environmental impact, protect local cultural identities, and address the infrastructure pressures it creates. Cross-border cooperation and partnerships are recognised as fundamental for sustainable tourism development within the European Union [2]. EU policies consistently emphasises the need for tourism regions that extend beyond national borders, highlighting their importance in promoting regional integration and sustainable economic and social development. Tourism, as an economic sector, has the capacity to enhance territorial cohesion, while sustainable tourism, in particular, plays a crucial role in fostering regional convergence by improving competitiveness and encouraging territorial cooperation [3; p.100]. The European Committee of the Regions, in its Opinion “Towards More Sustainable Tourism for EU Cities and Regions”, underscores the need for tourism that respects Europe’s historical, cultural, and natural heritage. It calls for adequate funding and a long-term EU tourism policy focused on sustainability, quality, environmental protection, and climate change mitigation [4]. Sustainable cross-border tourism is pivotal to fostering regional benefits while ensuring long-term positive impacts on the environment, economies, and cultures. The vision of sustainable cross-border tourism stresses innovation, improved service quality, and productivity growth [5]. Stare and Križaj [6] define service innovation in tourism as the creation of new or improved services through interactions between providers and consumers. These innovations, which may range from novel concepts to technological advancements, are designed to enhance tourist experiences and productivity while responding to changing conditions. In the context of cross-border tourism, such innovations not only promote sustainability and environmental protection but also generate economic advantages and foster cultural cohesion across different regions. For effective promotion of sustainable tourism, it is crucial to implement a variety of innovations that extend beyond mere product innovation [7]. Hjalager [8] categorises several relevant types of innovations in this field: product innovations include the creation of nature-based tourism offerings; process innovations incorporate the use of sophisticated information management systems to improve cost efficiency; management innovations focus on enhancing personnel management strategies and implementing environmental incentive programmes; and institutional innovations may involve measures designed to mitigate environmental risks or manage external environmental impacts. Sustainable tourism products are specifically developed to align with local environments, communities, and cultures, ensuring that they mak (...truncated)