The Tourism Professional Day organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vas County on 24 September 2026 in Sárvár, on the occasion of World Tourism Day, focused on sustainability, innovation, regional cooperation and the development of tourism services. The standing and professional significance of the event was also reflected in the fact that participants were welcomed by Viktória Strompová, Member of the Hungarian National Assembly representing the region, József Cseri, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vas County, and Mihályné Hevér, Director of Sárvár Tourism Technical School.

The professional programme, hosted by Sárvár Tourism Technical School, addressed, among other topics, cross-border cooperation and the development of rural tourism. The closing professional presentation was delivered by Barna Kovács, Project Manager at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vas County, under the title “RE-ACTION: Developing Rural Tourism in the Slovenian-Hungarian Border Region through an Interregional Project.”

The presentation introduced the objectives and activities of the RE-ACTION project and highlighted how cross-border cooperation can contribute to increasing the visibility of the tourism assets of rural areas, improving services and strengthening links between local stakeholders.

The RE-ACTION project focuses on the development of rural tourism in the Slovenian-Hungarian border region. The project builds on the region’s rich natural, cultural and local assets and aims to develop more attractive and sustainable tourism experiences. Its objectives include strengthening the competitiveness of rural tourism businesses and developing cooperation and tourism products that reflect the specific characteristics of the region.

The presentation in Sárvár highlighted the potential of nature-based, active and slow tourism, as well as tourism experiences centred around digital detox. From the RE-ACTION perspective, developing rural tourism is not only about creating new services, but also about making more conscious use of local natural and cultural assets, encouraging cooperation between local businesses and creating unique and authentic experiences for visitors.

An important element of the project is its pilot programme, involving tourism providers who contribute to the project objectives by developing and increasing the visibility of their own services. The practical experience gained through the pilot activities can help identify which services, forms of cooperation and communication tools can best support the development of rural tourism in the border region.

The other topics discussed at the professional day were also closely linked to the RE-ACTION approach. Presentations on sustainability, tourism services based on local values and the importance of cooperation addressed issues that are also central to the project. The presentation of the Edible Forest project, for example, demonstrated how natural assets, local ingredients, gastronomy and tourism can be connected to create new types of experiences and opportunities for local businesses.

The Tourism Professional Day therefore provided an opportunity for RE-ACTION to be presented to tourism professionals in Vas County as a concrete example of cross-border tourism development. The event also facilitated professional exchange and provided an opportunity to present the project’s objectives, progress and the opportunities offered by its pilot programme directly to local and regional tourism stakeholders.

The event highlighted the importance of building on local values, sustainability, continuous innovation and cross-border cooperation in the long-term development of tourism in the region.

Photos by Vas Vármegyei Kereskedelmi és Iparkamara