The “Ideation Workshop” of the CROCUS project was held on 20 November 2025 in the Halis István City Library, where participants had the opportunity to jointly reflect on the future of cultural and creative tourism in the South Zala and Slovenian–Hungarian border regions.
The CROCUS project, implemented in cooperation with ten professional organisations from eight countries, aims to develop business and development models that strengthen tourism in rural, remote and cross-border areas, thereby fostering job creation and encouraging sustainable investments. In spring 2025, researchers from the University of Pannonia carried out extensive data collection and analysis in the South Zala and Pomurske regions, mapping the local characteristics, opportunities and challenges.
The project was presented by the university experts Dr. Ágnes Raffay-Danyi and Dr. Zsófia Papp, while the facilitator of the workshop was Réka Vámosi. The goal of the workshop was to initiate idea development, strengthen trust among participants, and lay the foundations necessary for the later creation of a business model prototype. Throughout the day, the facilitator guided participants through a creative and structured process that helped them explore the challenges and opportunities of their region from new perspectives, and identify potential cooperation and business opportunities.
As a result of the collaborative work, several promising project idea outlines were created. Among these, 1-3 concepts will be further developed at the next workshop in January 2026, each based on the region’s unique characteristics and the potential identified within the living labs.
