Carob Day in the Geopark: From Local Heritage to Sustainable Tourism

As part of the Carob Day celebrations, students from the "Bravura" school cooperative in Vis visited the Vis Archipelago UNESCO Global Geopark, where we prepared a presentation for them on the topic of "Vis Archipelago Geopark: More Than Just Geology – Geotourism, Local Heritage, and Sustainable Island Development".    

The visit was part of a field and modular learning program through which students spent the day exploring the importance of carob for Komiža and the island of Vis, as well as the broader context of local heritage and the possibilities for integrating it into modern tourism offerings.

We focused specifically on the concept of geotourism – a form of tourism that starts with geological heritage and landscapes but connects them with nature, culture, local food, tradition, and community life. The goal of geotourism is not just to visit an interesting site, but to understand how a particular area was formed, how it has influenced people's lives, and how its uniqueness can be preserved and interpreted in a sustainable way. Geo-trails are one of the primary tools for exploring an area in this way.    

We also introduced the students to other forms of tourism that naturally complement the unique features of the Vis Archipelago – active and outdoor tourism, scientific and educational tourism, cultural tourism, health and wellness tourism, and slow tourism.    

Special emphasis was placed on gastronomic tourism and GEOfood, an initiative that connects local food and products with the geological, cultural, and natural heritage of the UNESCO Global Geopark area.    

The "Bravura" school cooperative plays a role in this story. The students harvest the raw materials themselves, process them, create bilingual recipes, and design packaging for their authentic edible souvenirs. Among these, carob products such as jam and syrup stand out, transforming a traditional island ingredient into a modern local product.

This approach shows students that carob is not just part of the island's agricultural tradition, but also a potential for developing new products, tourism content, and entrepreneurial ideas. At the same time, these products convey the story of Vis, its heritage, and its local identity, strengthening the island's recognition as a geo-gastronomic destination.

We also discussed the importance of cultural and intangible heritage, nature conservation, and the role of local products in creating a higher-quality and more sustainable tourism offering.    

The Carob Day celebration thus became an opportunity to connect classroom knowledge with local heritage, tourism, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development, and to reflect on how we can preserve, improve, and present what we already have on the island in a new way.