The International Institute for Climate Activities (IICA) hosted its seventh Impact & Connect After-Work Event this April as part of its educational and networking initiative, focusing on the topic: Resilience of the Tourism Sector to Climate Change.

In the inspiring company of leading experts and members of the IICA community, and in a relaxed yet lively atmosphere, participants discussed this pressing issue and the key challenges surrounding the tourism sector’s resilience in the face of climate change.

Marija Pujo Tadić, President of the International Institute for Climate Activities (IICA) and Special Adviser/Envoy for Climate Action of the Republic of Croatia, emphasized that in the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, the tourism sector is identified as particularly vulnerable and therefore requires special attention. She also highlighted that the estimated annual damage from climate change impacts in Croatia exceeds €60 million. As always, she called for thorough preparation and stressed the importance of accelerating the implementation of the adaptation strategy to reduce such damages.

Marija Pujo Tadić, International Institute for Climate Action (IICA) and Special Advisor/Envoy for Climate Action of the Republic of Croatia and Mario Špadina, Director and Co-Founder of SeaCras d.o.o

As the event’s second speaker, Mr. Slavko Štefičar, Director of the Directorate for Sustainable Development and Competitiveness of Tourism Destinations at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, underscored the importance of resource protection—not only for environmental preservation but also as a key factor in cost reduction. He emphasized the need to implement the Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy until 2030, relying on specific national and regional management plans. Notably, Mr. Štefičar introduced the concept of a “Sustainable Tourism Account”—the world’s first project aimed at monitoring national, regional, and destination-level indicators, which Croatia plans to launch in the near future.

Slavko Štefičar, General Director of the Directorate for Sustainable Development and Competitiveness of Tourist Destinations (Ministry of Tourism and Sports)

The third distinguished speaker, Mr. Mario Špadina, Director and Co-Founder of SeaCras Ltd., highlighted Croatia’s main resources—the sun and the sea—but also pointed to growing challenges such as increased wildfires, infrastructure strain, and pollution incidents, often associated with mass tourism. He presented eco-mooring optimization as a successful model for marine protection, as well as the first global pollution monitoring system using satellite imagery, and stressed the importance of the “regenerative tourism” concept. His scientific contributions and innovative projects significantly support national and EU strategic planning in areas such as maritime traffic, coastal tourism, Earth observation, and climate security. Moreover, in 2024, Mr. Špadina was recognized by the World Economic Forum’s UpLink platform as one of the “Top Managers and Innovators”. This achievement is a source of pride for Croatia and a strong incentive to invest further in education and to encourage the development and global promotion of domestic solutions and technologies.

The concluding message of the IICA Impact & Connect After-Work Event emphasized that sustainable tourism is not only an ecological issue, but also one of economic resilience. It requires clear regulatory frameworks, strategic investments, and effective financing mechanisms to ensure the long-term sustainability and innovation of tourism destinations. The key to success lies in collaboration between sectors, policymakers, and the scientific community, as only through collective action can we secure a resilient and sustainable future for tourism in the Republic of Croatia.

The President and the team of the International Institute for Climate Action (IICA), together with the lecturers of the IICA Impact & Connect After work event, IICA members, and distinguished guests