by InTrieste
A cross-border partnership between Friuli Venezia Giulia and Austria’s Carinthia is gaining momentum as the neighboring regions jointly promote slow, experience-driven tourism aimed at international travelers.
Regional tourism councillor Sergio Emidio Bini said after a meeting in Udine with officials from Kärnten Werbung and PromoTurismoFVG that cooperation now focuses on linking hiking routes, cycling paths, and scenic road itineraries across the Alpine-Adriatic area.
One cornerstone project is a 620-kilometer cross-border trail system that passes through Italy, Austria, and Slovenia, with several stages in Friuli Venezia Giulia. A renewed agreement for the initiative is expected to cover the period from 2026 to 2028.
Tourism flows from Austria to the Italian region have risen sharply, with arrivals up nearly 25 percent and overnight stays up about 19 percent since 2019, according to regional data.
Officials say the joint branding effort also targets long-haul visitors, particularly from the United States and Canada, reflecting a broader push to market the Alpine-Adriatic corridor as a single, sustainable travel destination.
