The conference “European Rural Women: Sustainable Tourism as a Driver of Community Development” was held on 30 June 2026 at the Medvedgrad Visitor Centre in Medvednica Nature Park. The event was organised by the Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development “The Village Membership Club”.
The event brought together experts, women entrepreneurs working in rural tourism and representatives of local communities with the aim of promoting sustainable tourism as an important tool for the economic and social empowerment of women in rural areas. Introductory presentations, thematic discussions and panel sessions showcased the experiences of women whose work contributes to preserving heritage, developing local communities and creating new tourism experiences in rural areas.
The patrons and partners of the event were the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the City of Zagreb, the Croatian National Tourist Board, the Medvednica Nature Park Public Institution and the Croatian LEADER Network.
The conference was opened with introductory remarks by Dijana Katica, President of the Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development “The Village Membership Club”; Marina Popijač, Acting Director of the Medvednica Nature Park Public Institution; and Zdravko Tušek, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The introductory session highlighted the importance of sustainable tourism for environmental protection, the responsible use of natural resources, the development of entrepreneurial initiatives and stronger networking among women in rural areas.
The professional part of the programme focused on the role of women in preserving traditions, local gastronomy, traditional crafts, and natural and cultural heritage, as well as in developing modern forms of experiential and sustainable tourism. Through their own examples, participants demonstrated how local knowledge, family traditions, products and natural resources can be connected with entrepreneurship and tourism.
Particular emphasis was placed on education, the transfer of knowledge to younger generations, green practices, storytelling and events that increase the visibility of rural areas. The examples presented demonstrated that women in rural areas play a crucial role in preserving the identity of local communities and creating new development opportunities.
One of the conference’s most important announcements was the introduction of a new competition category, “European Rural Women”, within the national “SUNCOKRET Rural Tourism – The Sunflower Award”. The new category is intended to recognise and increase the visibility of projects in which women are leading rural development, the green transition and the circular economy.
The Sunflower Network was also presented as a platform for education, networking, the exchange of experience and stronger connections with European tourism trends and routes. Within this platform, the “European Rural Women” network will provide a space for mentoring, solidarity and the exchange of experience among women working in rural areas.
The conference once again emphasised that sustainable rural tourism is not only an economic and tourism-related issue, but also an important mechanism for preserving heritage, strengthening local communities and creating new opportunities for women in rural areas.
The Croatian Rural Development Network supports initiatives that increase the visibility of women in rural areas, strengthen local communities and promote the development of sustainable and inclusive rural development models.
