On Thursday, 29 May 2025, undergraduate students of Rural Tourism Management and graduate students of Destination Management visited the Đurđevac destination area and the Karlovčan Family Ethno Houses Excursion Site in Brodić. The purpose of the field trip was to introduce students to the approach of creating a recognisable tourism product, as well as to showcase successful examples of cultural and natural heritage interpretation and agritourism estate management.
Upon arrival at the medieval fortress Stari grad Đurđevac, an introductory lecture was held to acquaint the students with the main tourism products and results of the Đurđevac destination, as well as the activities and challenges in tourism development, presented by the Đurđevac Tourist Board. After the lecture, students toured the fortress and the local attraction – the Croatian Sahara with a small zoo. The visit concluded with a short theatrical reenactment of the defence of Đurđevac from the Ottoman Empire.
After visiting the main attractions of the Đurđevac destination, students continued to the Karlovčan Family Ethno Houses Excursion Site in Brodić. The visit began with a warm welcome from the hosts and a brief presentation of the estate – from the initial idea to its realisation and current tourism offer. The presentation was interactive, with students sharing their opinions and asking questions. During the visit, students had the opportunity to explore the excursion site’s attractions, including a ride on an authentic tourist train, horseback riding, and a panoramic boat ride on the Drava River, during which they learned about the protected natural features of the Mura-Drava Regional Park.
The field trip was organised and supervised by Dr. Božidar Jaković, Head of the Tourism Department and Senior Lecturer.
