The Manager of the Centre for Halal Quality Certification participated in the KultuRi Conference in Rijeka.

Today in Rijeka, the KultuRi Conference – a conference on the valorisation of cultural-historical and sacred heritage in tourism – was opened, taking place on 9 and 10 April 2026 and bringing together numerous experts from the fields of tourism, culture and gastronomy.

The conference is dedicated to reflecting on the role of cultural and sacred heritage in contemporary tourism, with an emphasis on sustainable development, authenticity of the offer and connecting local communities.

Also participating in today's programme was the Manager of the Centre for Halal Quality Certification, Mr. Muhamed Mandžić, who delivered a presentation on the topic “Halal in the Function of Strengthening the Tourism Potential of a Destination”. In his presentation, he emphasised the importance of halal standards as a significant segment of the tourism offer in the context of growing interest in the global market.

Through concrete data, Mandžić highlighted the strong growth of halal tourism, stressing that even a small share of this market would represent a significant opportunity for Croatian tourism. As examples of good practice, he singled out hotels that have already recognised this potential and implemented the HRN BAS standard, such as the Sheraton and Hilton hotels in Zagreb, the AC Hotel by Marriott in Split, the Grand View hotel on Brač and the Rixos hotel in Dubrovnik.

Special emphasis was placed on the connection between gastronomy and cultural heritage, with the Islamic Centre in Rijeka highlighted as an example of good practice, which, in addition to its sacred and architectural value, also contributes to the tourism offer through halal gastronomy.

In his presentation, it was explained that halal in tourism implies food safety, transparency of processes and adaptation of services to guests, supported by a halal certification system that enables structured development of the offer.

In conclusion, the connection between tourism and investment was also emphasised, with the note that tourism experiences often represent the first step towards business cooperation and investments. The presentation ended with an announcement of the Halal Business Forum 2026, which will be held in Dubrovnik from 11 to 13 November.

The conference continues tomorrow, when additional presentations and discussions will open up new questions and perspectives on the development of cultural tourism.