SAGE – Interreg SI-AT
Kick-off Project Meeting
9th – 10th October 2024

9th October 2024, Murska Sobota

A very successful and good atmosphere meeting in Murska Sobota on 9th October 2024.

Participants: Project partners BP Akademija, FH Joanneum, TIC Moravske Toplice, Spirit of Regions, Natur- und Kräuterdorf Irschen

We had the opportunity to discuss the following topics with our partners:

  1. Introduction
  2. Management and communication
  3. Developing a joint strategy and sustainability plan for cross-border tourism product development
  4. Creating a cross-border destination for seniors
  5. Ensuring the sustainability and long-term management of a cross-border destination for seniors
  6. Plan for next 5 months

Important/highlighted information:

  • Research with 2 special focuses: culture and art; environment or nature and health
  • Issues of interest – travel experiences and motivations of seniors
  • Language requirements
  • Focus on creating a group experiences
  • Sustainability – focused on eco-friendly region – environmental sustainability
  • Combining other Interreg projects

The mission of the Spirit of Region team during the project: Creating a cross-border destination for seniors

Zsuzanna Zsula präsentiert beim SAGE Kick-off Meeting

Main topics presented by us:

  • 10 providers from Slovenia and 10 from Austria
  • Focusing on existing offer as much as possible and at the same time offer something new
  • Trainings – publish
  • Providing eco-friendly food and services and reducing ecological footprints through best practices
  • Green practices and certificates
  • Potential of different kind of tourism for seniors (for example winter hiking tourism etc.)
  • Importance of using the different senses

10th October 2024, Moravske Toplice

On the second day of the project meeting, we continued the planning process that had been started and during the practical sessions, we opened up new possibilities for more topics to talk about.

Eine gebundene Strohpuppe liegt auf einem Holztisch, daneben steht ein Glas mit einem roten Getränk und ein Korb mit Gebäck
Ein Mann in einem grünen Pullover erklärt Details eines getöpferten Krugs
Eine Frau sitzt an der Töpferscheibe, ein Mann unterstützt sie bei der Arbeit
Tisch mit Stroh, zwei Frauen und ein Mann binden Figuren daraus
Kopf-Studie aus Ton auf Arbeitstisch in Töpferei
Gruppe geht bei sonnigem Wetter durch den Eingang einer Töpferei

Traveling through the Prekmurje countryside revealed the region’s strengths: its preserved buildings and craft traditions, which combine the characteristics of three countries. The unique horizon of the landscape, with its endless strips of land, gives a sense of security.

The common folk traditions could bring back childhood memories for everyone: making puppets from corn with grandparents, baking together….and the special smell of it, which was almost the same as the special one that reminds us of times spend at the grandparents as a child.