Ljiljana Vajda-Mlinaček Marketing and Tourism Director Belje, Croatia

1. Croatian Danube Region & Ljiljana Vajda-Mlinaček Marketing and Tourism Director Belje, Croatia Sofia, November 2011.

2. Agenda • Introduction – Belje and CroatianDanube • CroatianDanube • Winehills • TouristAttractions • Baranja Region – Tourism and Wine • Networking in Tourism • Plansforthe Future

3. Introducingcompany • The largest agricultural and industrial capacity in Croatia • Headquaters in Darda, Osijek - Baranja county • Part of theAgrokor Group, largest private company in Croatia and one of the leading regional companies employing more than 40,000 people • 20.000ha of arableland, 583ha of wineyards • Concernfor environmental protection, nature conservation and sustainable development • 314 years of tradition and socialresponsibilityfor Baranja regiondevelopment

4. IntroducingCroatianDanube • Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar Syrmiacounty • Mostlyruralareawithgood transport connections (highway) • Multiethnicregion – Croatian, Serbian and Hungarianinhabitans • Multiculturalregion • Wine growingstarted in Roman times (MarcusAureliusProbus 276.-282.) • Development of ruraltourism in last fewyears • Baranja, part of Osijek-Baranja county • It is believed that Baranjahas been named after a Hungarian word Boranya meaning Mother of Wine. • 42,633 people • Rural area - 8 municipalities and 1 town • Multiethnic region, on a border to Serbia and Hungary • Nature Park Kopački rit • Strong development of rural tourism .

5. Tourism in CroatianDanube . • Ruraltourismdestination • Popularfor a day trip for domestic tourists • Preservednaturalresources • Religioustourism /Aljmaš/ • Hike and bikepaths in Baranja • Hunting, fishing, birdwatching and traditionalarts and crafts • Wineroads • Authentictourismmanifestation: Surduk festival, Strawland art festival

6. CroatianDanube – Winehills

7. Baranja Winehill • Position Banovo hillat the altitude of 220 meters • Rich and airy loess soil characterized by a deep profile of loess. • Terrain and southernexposition ensures a well-balanced relationship between the freshness and maturity • In the assortment of wines the white wines prevail, most of which Graševina; top quality red wines are Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. • Wine cellars in Baranja: • Vina Belje- the biggest manufacturer of grapes in Croatia, with 583 ha of own vineyards • Family wine cellars - Gerštmajer, Josić, Kolar, Kalazić

8. Erdut Winehill • Erdut winehill are mostly situated in eastern part of Dalj hill, above Danube • Production is concentrated in white wine varieties, specialy graševina • Red wines: zweiglet, pinot noir, cabernet franc • Wine cellars in Erdut and souranding area: • Erdut wineyards - 420 ha of wineyards • Family wine cellars- Iuris, Antunović, Siber, Janečić, Heim, Rogić • Private accomodation: house for rent or bad and breakfast • Erdut wineyards have the biggest oak wood barrel in the Europe with capacity of 75.000 l. This barrel is still in use.

9. Srijem Winehill • Ilok is the centre of the rich wine-growing Syrmia area • Wineyards are situated on the right bank of the river Danube where the west slopes of Fruška Gora hill falling gently to the coast • The area is well known for the famous Ilok Traminer . • The wines from Ilok were served on Coronation of Queen Elisabeth II in 1953. • Wine cellars in Ilok and souranding • Ilok cellars –the most awarded wine cellar in Croatia • Family wine cellars – Agro Ilok, Mirko Čobanković, Ivan Čobanković, Kraljević, Buhač, Đerić, Bošnjak, Stipetić Principovac Traminer Ice harvest 2007 (Ilok cellars) The most awarded Croatian wine

10. TouristAttractions Nature Park KOPAČKI RIT • one of the most important, largest and most attractive preserved intact wetlands in Europe • it comprises many backwaters and ponds along the Danube • 290 bird species nest here, most of them world preserved • 40 odd fish species and 51 game species • rich plant life, typical wetlands • high visiting rate (especially excursions )

11. TouristAttractions GATOR & SURDUK • Gator is a tradittional wine cellar in Baranja • Gator is horizontally dig in a hill • Biggest gator in the region is Belje Wine Cellar • Surduk is steep, deep-cut passage in a loess soil. The sides of Surduk can be a few meters high and punctuated by roots of trees. They could be a natural tunnel or a street in a villages of Banovo Hill. • In village Zmajevac there is gator touristic street

12. TouristAttractions TOWN OF ILOK • Town of Ilok lies on a hill overlooking the Danube and is home of Franciscan monastery and Odescalchi Castle • The importantcultural and historical heritage with Gothic churches being the most distinguished objects • Ilok cellars founded by Odescalchi family • Breathtaking view over Ilok, Syrmia and Bačka from Principovac belvedere. The belvedere and the other farm houses are renewed and restored for vine-growing and tourist purposes.

13. TouristAttractions THE VUČEDOL • The right bank of the Danube River, 5km downstream from the Vukovar, was settled by the population of the Vučedol Culture at the beginning of the third millennium BC • The need for copper resulted in the expansion of the Vučedol Culture from its homeland in Croatian Danube into the broader region of Central and South-eastern Europe. • One of the most famous pieces is the ritual vessel, Vučedol Dove (vučedolska golubica). • Next year will be opened modern museum of Vučedol Culture, on a Danube bank

14. Baranja Region – Tourism and Wine PARTNERSHIP IN BARANJA RURAL TOURISM • Govermental organization, local tourist bord, local government, NGO, private companies and family businesses • Cooperation in all segments of tourism offer (hotel, private accomodation, restaurants, wine cellar, sport associations) • Education, standardization of tourism services, labeling, regulated mutual relations • Tourism product development • Design and organization of eno-gastro manifestation

15. Baranja Region – Tourism and Wine LOCAL FOOD AND LOCAL WINE - PERFECT COMBINATION

16. Baranja Region – Tourism and Wine LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS – important for tourism development • Association of Baranja wine makers • Association of local honey producers • Organization of producers of Baranja kulen • Women’s association • NGO • E-baranja association • Old craft association • Association of antique collectors • Sport associations • Art associations

17. Baranja Region – TourismNetworking • Commonpromotion • Web site • Flyers • Tourismfairs • Promo-tours • Integratedoffer • Manifestation (local and international) • Education • Internationaltourismprojects

18. Baranja on a socialnetwork • Content on a tourist profile Baranja is generated by all members of local comunity

19. Baranja Region – Future Plans • Continuing of cooperationamong wine cellars, restaurants, hotels, privateaccomodations and touristagencies • Making a new tourismofferfor a specific group of guests • Tailormadetourismoffer • Airportfor a ultralightairplains • Organization of wine tours in Baranja and CroatianDanube • PR comunication and presentation of uniquetouristoffer in Baranja duringthewholeyear in Croatia, SouthHungary and NorthSerbia • Promotion of Baranja manifestation in digitalmedia and on a socialnetworks • Organization of studytours in otherDanuberegionsfor all theparticipans in Baranja tourismoffer