Success for Sárvár and Hévíz in Kranj: I-DEST supports sustainable tourism development

The bronze certification of Sárvár and Hévíz marks an important milestone in the implementation of CROSSDEST: the two Hungarian destinations have fulfilled one of the project's key commitments. However, the programme does not stop at achieving recognition. Its goal is to integrate sustainability and accessibility considerations into the daily operations of tourism organisations, attractions, and local businesses, making progress measurable.

This is where I-DEST comes into play. The monitoring and quality management developments implemented within the framework of CROSSDEST provide participants with a shared digital toolkit. The aim is not merely to collect data but to help tourism stakeholders identify their strengths, pinpoint areas for improvement, and plan their next steps based on the results.

I-DEST is a platform that supports the digital management of destinations in a comprehensive way. The functions developed within CROSSDEST link the monitoring of sustainability performance with service quality improvements and visitor information.

In addition to environmental aspects, the system also incorporates social and economic sustainability as well as accessibility. This means that attention can be directed not only to energy and water usage or waste management but also to cooperation with local producers, accessible services, and the needs of diverse guest groups. This multi-faceted approach forms the foundation of the project's shared monitoring system.

Self-assessment for service providers helps businesses review their operations and identify development opportunities. For destination management organisations, the uniformly collected information supports a better understanding of local offerings, the definition of preparation tasks, and the foundation of development decisions. Shared quality management extends beyond sustainability to include family-friendly, cyclist-friendly, and pet-friendly services, as well as accessible information.

The role of I-DEST goes beyond showcasing results: it is a tool for everyday work that supports progress. Digital self-assessment and monitoring aid preparation and track advancement; they do not replace international certification.

At the Green Destinations conference in Kranj, Júlia Nagy introduced the CROSSDEST programme during her presentation. This opportunity allowed the international professional audience to learn about the Slovenian–Hungarian collaboration and its digital background.

The programme supports the tourism development of Hévíz, Sárvár, Lendava, and Murska Sobota with a shared quality management approach and unified monitoring system. A key element of the collaboration is ensuring that local attractions, tourism service providers, and producers align with the goals set at the municipal level. When developing digital solutions and a shared methodology, it is also considered how these can later be applied in other destinations.

The professional presentation in Kranj is also linked to the recent international success of I-DEST: the platform won the Skålité International Awards for Tourism Innovation held in Istanbul, as previously reported.

The recognition of Sárvár and Hévíz is an important result of the joint work carried out within CROSSDEST. However, the long-term goal of the project is to ensure that the methods and digital tools developed are integrated into the operations of tourism stakeholders even after certification is achieved. I-DEST provides the foundation for this: it helps organise information, track changes, and define further development tasks.

The SIHU00138 – CROSSDEST project is implemented under the Interreg VI-A Slovenia–Hungary Programme. Its aim is to develop inclusive and sustainable tourism in the Slovenian–Hungarian border region. The lead partner is Hévíz Tourism Nonprofit Ltd.; Innotime Hungary Ltd. contributes to the development of digital monitoring and quality management solutions for the project.