On Tuesday, May 7, 2024, a guest lecture for students of Rural Tourism Management and Destination Management was delivered by Ivona Janota, the director of the Tourist Board of the South Bilogora area, comprising the town of Grubišno Polje and the municipality of Veliki Grđevac. Ivona Janota graduated from the Department of Tourism and Communication Sciences at the University of Zadar with a master’s degree in Cultural Entrepreneurship and Tourism, and she was awarded the Rector’s Prize. After completing her studies, she worked for four years as the head of the tourism department at a company in Zadar and actively participated in the development of the mobile application “Going Places.” Through her curriculum vitae, she shared many interesting details with the students, such as the importance of volunteering and Erasmus as a way of gaining experience, meeting new people, and strengthening language skills. Currently, as the director of the Tourist Board, she implements various projects and organizes events to make the South Bilogora area a recognizable destination. Most importantly, she emphasized that the role of the first impression and guest care is imperative in tourism because tourism is a calling, not just a job.
