{"id":20100,"date":"2026-07-09T12:24:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T10:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.si-hu.eu\/2127\/?p=20100"},"modified":"2026-07-09T12:24:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T10:24:15","slug":"local-producers-supporting-tourism-successful-cross-border-workshop-in-lenti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.si-hu.eu\/2127\/2026\/07\/09\/local-producers-supporting-tourism-successful-cross-border-workshop-in-lenti\/","title":{"rendered":"Local Producers Supporting Tourism \u2013 Successful Cross-Border Workshop in Lenti"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 10. 21.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    On 20 October 2025, the workshop \u201cStrengthening the Role of Local Producers in Cross-Border Tourism in the Slovenian\u2013Hungarian Border Region\u201d took place in Lenti, gathering Slovenian and Hungarian experts, local producers and tourism service providers.<\/p>\n

    The event was organised by the Pannon European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (Pannon EGTC) within the CROSSDEST project. The goal of the workshop was to connect local producers and tourism actors from both sides of the border, present new trends and business models, and lay the foundations for practical cooperation.<\/p>\n

    Opening \u2013 A Shared Region, Shared Opportunities<\/p>\n

    The event was opened by Imre P\u00e1csonyi, Vice President of Zala County, and Dr. Judit F\u00fcz\u00e9r, Deputy Director of Pannon EGTC. They emphasised that cooperation between local product initiatives and the tourism sector is not only an economic opportunity but also a key element of community-building and identity in the border region. Numerous developments \u2013 from gastronomic events to cycling routes \u2013 increasingly rely on local product visibility, making cross-sector cooperation essential.<\/p>\n

    Professional Presentations \u2013 International Good Practices and Local Challenges<\/p>\n

    The first expert presentation was delivered by Dr. G\u00e9za Hitka, Head of the Food Technology Centre at MATE. He introduced new business models of alternative food networks and highlighted Central European good practices that successfully strengthen the role of local products in tourism. He noted that consumer demand for high-quality, traceable, sustainable products is steadily increasing, creating new market opportunities for small and medium-sized producers.<\/p>\n

    This was followed by Dr. \u00c1gnes Hitesy (HBH Strategy and Development Ltd.), who provided a comprehensive overview of the Slovenian\u2013Hungarian border region. She analysed the current presence of local products in tourism services, identified structural gaps and barriers, and highlighted cooperation opportunities. She stressed that tourism providers increasingly require reliable, consistent-quality, well-communicated local products, while producers often lack organised platforms, shared databases and unified communication tools that would help them enter the tourism market.<\/p>\n

    Interactive Knowledge Exchange \u2013 Moving Towards Practical Cooperation<\/p>\n

    In the interactive session moderated by \u00c1gota Nagy (Pannon EGTC) and Dr. \u00c1gnes Hitesy (HBH Ltd.), participants discussed concrete ways to deepen cooperation between local producers and tourism actors. The dialogue covered issues such as quality assurance, the lack of up-to-date information, the need for joint marketing and branding tools, and the potential for cross-border promotional events \u2013 fairs, tastings, and producer showcases.<\/p>\n

    Participants agreed that structured platforms such as the I-DEST system developed within CROSSDEST could significantly support coordinated cooperation in the region.<\/p>\n

    Networking and Conclusions<\/p>\n

    The workshop concluded with a networking lunch, where participants continued discussions informally and explored specific collaboration opportunities. Several new cross-border connections were established between producers, tourism providers, municipalities and development organisations.<\/p>\n

    Pannon EGTC will continue to support local producers, strengthen cross-border cooperation, and develop joint databases and platforms in the upcoming stages of the CROSSDEST project<\/p>\n<\/div>