On Friday, February 16, 2024 at 12:00 at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Opatija, the ECO STROLL FTHM project was promoted. The project was designed by the students and employees of the Faculty with the co-sponsorship of Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa and the Hilton Global Foundation, and on the occasion of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Faculty’s work. The Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management was founded in 1974, and it united the work of the former Hospitality department of the Higher School of Economics and the Tourism department of the Faculty of Economics.
The Dean of the Faculty prof. Marko Perić Ph. D. greeted the guests present and pointed out that higher education institutions have a very important role in promoting sustainable development, economic growth and cultural and social progress. Students at our Faculty are not exclusively focused on lectures and research, but want to become active participants and contribute to the community where they study.
On behalf of the co-sponsors Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa and the Hilton Global Foundation, Nataša Kovačić Stilinović, director of human resources, spoke at the opening, emphasizing the importance of involvement in local projects and praising the concept and implementation of the ecological, educational and tourist stroll.
The Vice dean for development prof. Marinela Krstinić Nižić Ph.D. , who leads sustainable activities at the Faculty through the Eco Committee, pointed out that through the place-based learning model, students designed locations with an emphasis on sustainability, innovation and functioning in harmony with nature.
The project is conceived as a stroll through history and nature where the user will learn interesting and historical facts about the location, as well as get to know the flora typical of the coastal region, which is also an integral part of the locality, pointed out Luka Vrančić, president of the Student Union, at the end.
The points are marked with a QR code with text in Croatian and English. The points (locations) are:
1. The past (historic building of the Faculty)
2. Carousel
3. Ika
4. Beach
5. Camellia
6. Green classroom (insect hotel + bird houses)
7. Tourism 365 (substation)
8. The present – for the future (annex – “new” building)
9. Olive
10. Linden
11. Laurel
12. Black pine
13. Cypress
14. Oak
