Bridging the gaps of Cross border Small destinations

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Italy-Croatia

Date of latest update: 2026-01-21

Description

Description (EN):

Legal and administrative obstacles hampers the cross-border cooperation in Italy – Croatia Programme area, especially those concerning the operational and administrative governance mechanisms through which local public authorities manage different key sectors, such as tourism. This is the case of three inner areas, such as the Area of the Basso Ferrarese of Emilia Romagna Region, the Matese Inner Area of Molise Region, and the Municipality of Dugopolje of Split-Dalmatia County, territories with a strong touristic vocation, but actually outside of important tourist flows and especially cross-border initiatives, due to an extreme fragmentation of tourism governance mechanisms and a lack of unified touristic instruments. The project BRICS aims to overcome these obstacles hampering the outwards touristic promotion of inner areas, through the provision of unique tourism governance mechanisms and instruments, such as One Stop Shops for Tourism and Area Tourist Centres, as well as a BRICS Cross-border Strategy to externally promote tourist assets, fostering the participation to cross-border initiatives. The project will actively support local public administrators, local stakeholders and citizens that will be involved in a co-participative process, aimed at designing tourism governance solutions and cross-border promotional strategies.

Actual Achievements (EN):

The BRICS project has achieved an important goal: it created new tourism governance mechanisms and practical tools that will help less-known inner areas of Italy and Croatia to better promote their cultural and natural attractions. Based on the main achievement of BRICS, the three new tourism governance mechanisms and identified instruments will become operational—each tailored to one area involved in the project— from the 2025, ensuring that these territories gain visibility, attract more visitors and be included in Cross-Border initiatives. These areas are the Union of River and Lands of the Basso Ferrarese (Emilia-Romagna), the Union of Biferno Springs (Molise), and the Municipality of Dugopolje (Split-Dalmatia). Although rich in culture, history, and nature, these places often remain under the radar for tourists because most promotional efforts have been local, fragmented, and uncoordinated. To tackle this issue, each partner designed a unique solution that fits their territory's characteristics. These were officially adopted through the signing of three administrative acts. In addition, the partners agreed on a joint Memorandum of Understanding, which will support cross-border cooperation and ensure a more united and long-lasting approach to tourism development. For example, in targeted area, outdated administrative procedures made it difficult for local tourism operators, as well as natural and cultural asset to have visibility, on main tourism destination routes. Thanks to the BRICS project, those procedures were revised, making it easier for local touristic offer to be included in broader promotional plans. As a result, a traveller exploring a cultural event in one town might now also be guided to nearby nature trails or historical sites in a neighbouring village—benefiting the wider region. A key success of the project has been the shared learning process. Each partner took time to analyse its own tourism strategies, exchange practices with others, and involve local stakeholders—from small business owners to public officials—in shaping better governance. This collaborative process led to a stronger, united vision for the future of tourism in these inner areas. The BRICS project also encouraged a shift in mindset. Local authorities, tourism associations, and small businesses began to understand the value of working together through a unified strategy, rather than relying on isolated efforts. This led to the development of a long-term Cross-Border Tourism Promotion Strategy, built on shared goals and tailored to local realities. By the end of the project, all partners had gained valuable insights, not just about how to promote their territories better, but also about how to build strong networks that extend across borders. This experience laid the groundwork for ongoing cooperation, which will continue through joint training sessions, skills development workshops, and events designed to attract more visitors and boost local economies. What began as an effort to overcome fragmented governance has evolved into a shared commitment to making these hidden gems of Italy and Croatia shine on the tourism map. The challenge ahead is to keep this momentum going, making sure that the new tools and strategies are used in everyday practice, helping local communities’ benefit from a more sustainable and coordinated approach to tourism development.

Project outputs: BRICS Partnership(EN)
Unique tourism governance mechanisms in inner areas(EN)
BRICS Cross-Border cooperation agreement.(EN)

Thematic information

Governance, partnership Tourism

Priority: (VI-A_I-Hr_5) Integrated governance for stronger cooperation

Priority specific objective: ISO6.6. Other actions to support better cooperation governance (all strands)

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO6 (ISO1) A better cooperation governance

Type of intervention: 173 Enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders to implement territorial cooperation projects and initiatives in a cross-border, transnational, maritime and inter-regional context

Partners (3)

Lead Partner: Unione dei Comuni Terre e Fiumi

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 01801760388 | 01801760388 | unioneterrefiumi@pec.unioneterrefiumi.fe.it (EN)

Department: Territorial Planning for Less Developed Regions Unit

Address: via Mazzini , 44034 Copparo, Italy

Department address: Via Del Lavoro, 44039 Copparo, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.unioneterrefiumi.fe.it/

Total budget: EUR 94 020.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 94 020.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 100.00%

Contractors:

Name: POLEIS SOC. COOP
VAT registration or tax identification number: 02943010369
Name: NAXTA SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: 02135061204
Name: Rosignoli Massimiliano
VAT registration or tax identification number: 00655650554

Općina Dugopolje

Name: Općina Dugopolje

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 933830641

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 57240842564 | 57240842564 | na (EN)

Address: Trg Franje Tuđmana, 21204 Dugopolje, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.dugopolje.hr

Total budget: EUR 69 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 55 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 13 800.00

Contractors:

Name: EUPRO CONSULTING D.O.O.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 86161795976

Unione dei Comuni sorgenti del Biferno

Name: Unione dei Comuni sorgenti del Biferno

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 01531860706 | 01531860706 | unione.sorgentidelbiferno@pec.it (EN)

Address: Via Cavadini , 86021 Bojano, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.sorgentidelbiferno.it

Total budget: EUR 74 440.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 74 440.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 100.00%

Contractors:

Name: Maria Gabriella BUONDONNO
VAT registration or tax identification number: IT01531860706
Name: Eurelations GEIE
VAT registration or tax identification number: 01479610709

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Dugopolje

Bridging the gaps of Cross border Small destinations

Partners and Projects info

Union of Municipalities of Biferno springs

Bridging the gaps of Cross border Small destinations

Partners and Projects info

Union of Municipalities Lands and Rivers

Bridging the gaps of Cross border Small destinations

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Bridging the gaps of Cross border Small destinations

Project acronym: BRICS

Project ID: ITHR0400301

Project start date: 2023-07-01

Project end date: 2024-12-31

Project status: closed

Relevant linked projects:

Interreg Alpine 2014 - 2020: TRUST (EN) | The project aims to improve the quality of governance in the Alpine Space, by promoting the participation of stakeholders in decision-making processes, the use of open data and digital tools, and the cooperation between public authorities and civil society organizations. (EN), Interreg MED 2014 – 2020: Best-MED (EN) | Even though on a lower scale, the project is in synergy with BEST MED, the project aimed at fighting against seasonality and lack of effective cooperation among the main tourism actors, including the stakeholders and citizens effective participation. (EN), IPA CBC – Italy – Albania – Montenegro: OPENTOURISM (EN) | The project is also in line with some of the key components of OPEN TOURISM, a project aiming at reinforcing cross border public-private cooperation, in order to promote local heritage and favour economic and social development, particular regarding the definition of new concept of tourism. (EN), Interreg CE 2014 – 2020: STRENCH (EN) | The project, through the contribution of the PP3, will make use of the experience gained by this partner during its participation to STRENCH, in particular regarding the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage. (EN), SEA Italy Croatia (EN) | In addition to the mentioned projects which results will be capitalised within BRICS, the project will take into consideration the following actions in the implementation of the planned activities:
- interventions to promote sustainable tourism, encourage those that do not generate additional flows of people in vulnerable or protected areas.
- Training/involvement activities for tourists and managers of tourist activities for a more sustainable tourism. (EN)

Relevant mentions and prizes:

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 237 460.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 189 968.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 93.23%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 189 968.00. Co-financing rate, 93.23%.
Others: Amount, EUR 33 692.00.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Assessment report on the main tourism governance mechanisms issues at partner level
Stakeholder engagement meetings reports
Report on Study Visits on tourism governance mechanisms and cross-border cooperation
Inner areas Living Labs reports
Solution Summary Reports
BRICS Strategy Vision
Partner consultation rounds with stakeholders
BRICS joint tourism path and destination marketing plan and campaigns
BRICS Cross-Border Strategy
Cross-Border Strategy dissemination event

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion Even though not directly targeting the sector with ad-hoc intervention (simply because the project address the Italy - Croatia Priority 5, aimed at governance reinforcement) the project BRICS contribute to the Pillar 4: Sustainable Tourism, contributing to the touristic promotion of inner areas, not yet the recipient of important touristic flows, supporting the introduction of a diversified products and services along with tackling seasonality of inland, coastal and maritime tourism demand.
EuropeanGreenDeal na
Other The Italian Strategy on Internal Areas (SNAI)
The project is in line with the SNAI of 2018, aimed at promoting sustainable development in Italy's internal and less developed areas, especially through multi-governance paths in different sectors, such as tourism, with the involvement of stakeholders and local communities in decision-making processes. Both Unione Terre e Fiumi and Unione Comuni Sorgenti del l Biferno local strategies are line with the SNAI
Other Croatian Strategy for the Promotion of Tourism in Internal Areas
The project is in line with the Croatian Strategy for the Promotion of the Tourism in Internal Areas. This Strategy is focused on the development and promotion of tourism in less-visited and less-developed areas of the country, including the rural hinterland, mountainous regions, and small towns and villages. The strategy aims to support sustainable and responsible tourism development, promote economic growth, and preserve the cultural and natural heritage of these areas.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:
RCO 086 - Joint administrative or legal agreements signed, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO87) Organisations cooperating across borders: 3.0
(RCO86) Joint administrative or legal agreements signed: 2.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 082 - Legal or administrative obstacles across borders alleviated or resolved, Measurement unit:

Delivered result indicator(s):

(RCR84) Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion: 3.0

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Italy-Croatia

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2026-01

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

82 / 82 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

556 / 556 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Bridging the gaps of Cross border Small destinations

Description

Thematic information

Partners (3)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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