(ANSA) - KLAGENFURT, AUG 21 - From tourism to culture, from economy to infrastructure: the axis between Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, the capital of Carinthia, and Friuli Venezia Giulia is strengthening to transform the Alps-Adriatic area into an international tourism and economic brand. It is a collaboration rooted in time - the historic friendship with Gorizia dates back to 1965 - but today it knows new momentum thanks to million-dollar projects involving institutions, operators and citizens on both sides of the border. The mayor of Klagenfurt, Christian Scheider, told ANSA, stressing that relations with Fvg "are today one of our strategic priorities for the tourism and European development of the territory." Highlights include the eighth edition of "Alpe-Adria Cuisine Days," Carinthia's largest food and wine festival, Sept. 5-21 in Klagenfurt: more than 30 events dedicated to taste, guest chefs from Italy - including Gabriella Devetak from Collio - and a "Genussmeile" (street of taste) that will bring a selection of producers of excellence from the 'Adriatic-Alpine area to the city center from September 18 to 20 to promote the shared gastronomic identity of the Alps-Adriatic region. Second base of cross-border cooperation is "Slow Travel & Taste Alpe-Adria," a project funded by the European Interreg program with more than 500,000 euros. Klagenfurt is its lead partner with PromoTurismo FVG, GAL Carso and Slovenian Regional Economic Union (SDGZ) in Italy. The initiative aims to create an integrated tourism product based on slow tourism, local flavors with joint promotion campaigns: mountains of Carinthia, sea of Friuli, Slovenian vineyards for world markets from the U.S. to the Gulf. Dialogue is also growing on the cultural and institutional front. In 2025 Klagenfurt will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its twinning with Gorizia/Nova Gorica, the first cross-border European Capitals of Culture: joint exhibitions (after pilot experiences in Smartno), with stops in Lignano Sabbiadoro and Udine. With Lignano, a twin city since 2021, tourism synergies are being strengthened: in 2024 a maxi poster campaign promoted Klagenfurt as a destination for weekends and Advent markets. Prominent in the city today are mosaics of the coats of arms of Lignano and Koper (Slovenia), the work of the Spilimbergo school of mosaics and set in Kramergasse. And then friendship ties with Udine (a regular guest of Friuli Doc) and with Trieste, where a major event is being prepared with the mayor of Klagenfurt. "Also strategic," says Scheider, "is the strengthening of rail infrastructure: the new Koralmbahn, to connect East and South Austria more quickly, will play a key role in shortening distances to Friuli Venezia Giulia. Operational agreements between ÖBB and Trenitalia are needed to develop joint leisure tickets and city break offers for families and weekend tourists. Attention is given to school and university exchanges, a lever for cementing future cooperation. Student mobility programs between Klagenfurt and Italian partner cities, Scheider says, will be encouraged within the Alps-Adriatic framework. (ANSA).