On January 18, 2019, at the Informative Educational Center-Hostel Dravska priča, a workshop was held as part of the Amazon of Europe Bike Trail project, implemented under the Interreg Danube Transnational Program, entitled "Possibilities of cyclotourism development in Virovitica -Podravska County ".

Initially, the participants welcomed the director of the Public Institution for Nature Protection and Ecological Network of Virovitica-Podravina County Tatjana Arnold Sabo and the Deputy Director of the Tourist Board of Virovitica-Podravina County Josip Mikolčić.

Following the workshop, Tatjana Arnold Sabo presented the Amazon of Europe Bike Trail project, which aims to develop the Amazon of Europe bicycle route as a product of sustainable tourism in the planned cross-border Mura-Drava-Danube biosphere reserve, which will ensure a more even distribution of welfare for the local population, visitors and nature in the 5 Countries.

Josip Mikolčić presented the Tourist Offer of Virovitica-Podravina County in the area along the Drava River, and Božidar Jaković and Juraj Randelj from the High School for Tourism and Informatics presented the draft Action Plan for the Development of Cyclotourism of Virovitica- Podravina County and the city of Barcs.

Strengthening the regional economy, additional education for the local population on sustainable tourism and the importance of conservation of protected areas, will be achieved through direct involvement of all relevant stakeholders, the aim of this workshop as well as the Amazon of Europe Bike Trail project.

The Workshop also provided the opportunity for participants to get acquainted with the Interreg HU-HR cross-border project EV13 Gap: Filling the gap - completion of the cross-border part of the EuroVelo 13 route between Dravatamasija and Virovitica, because the project activities and the planned results of these two projects complement each other.

Text and Photos: © Public Institution for the Management of Protected Areas of Nature and the Ecological Network of Virovitica-Podravina County