As many as 31 destinations within the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism ranked among top global sustainable destination

The list of 2019 Sustainable Destinations Top 100 includes as many as 31 Slovenian destinations that bear the Slovenia Green label.

As part of the Global Green Destinations Days (GGDD) conference, this year’s 2019 Sustainable Destinations Top 100 list was presented yesterday evening (10 October) in Mali Lošinj. 

The list includes 31 destinations within the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism – i.e. all destinations awarded Slovenia Green Destination gold and silver labels: Ljubljana, Bled, Komen, Podčetrtek, Rogaška Slatina, White Carniola, Bohinj, Brda, Brežice, Hrpelje–Kozina, Idrija, Kamnik, Koper, Kranjska Gora, Laško, Lenart, Maribor, Miren–Kostanjevica, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Postojna, Ptuj, Radlje ob Dravi, Šentjur, Sevnica, Škofja Loka, Slovenj Gradec, Šmarješke Toplice, Solčava, Sveta Ana, and the Vipava Valley.  

On this occassion, Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board, Msc. Maja Pak, stated:

"We are proud that the international professional community has once again recognised the accomplishments of Slovenian tourism on its path towards excellence in sustainability (the path towards a 100% green Slovenia) and rewarded the efforts of Slovenian destinations that obtained Slovenia Green Destination gold and silver labels. The Green Scheme, which has received a number of awards from the esteemed international professional community, is further recognised as an example of good practice in systematic promotion of sustainable tourism at the national level. The Slovenian Tourist Board will continue developing and improving the scheme and thus promoting the development of sustainable destinations and products with higher added value based on sustainable principles. In this way, we contribute significantly to fulfilling the commitment of the I Feel Slovenia brand. Sincere congratulations to all award winners, who place sustainability at the very core of destination development, thus making a key contribution to the development and promotion of Slovenia, which has become an increasingly prominent and attractive green country offering personalised experiences."

This is an additional proof that Slovenian tourism orientation is appropriate and effective and that it leads towards sustainable development.

The World’s Top 100 Sustainable Destinations list spotlights those destinations (countries and regions) that are most committed to sustainable and responsible tourism. With thirty-one destinations on the list this year, Slovenia is extremely successful in this respect. Nominations were evaluated by the Sustainable Top 100 Team, members of the Top 100 International Committee and other experts coordinated by the Green Destinations organisation.

More on the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism

The Slovenian Tourist Board has developed a special tool for putting sustainable development business models into practice: the national programme Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism (Slovenia Green), which is based on over one hundred internationally comparable criteria for destinations and service providers. Currently, 92 Slovenia Green label holders are included in the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism (ZSST), of which 48 are destinations, 38 accommodation providers, 4 natural parks and 2 travel agencies. 

The Slovenian Tourist Board has received several international awards for the scheme, including the title of the World's First Green Country (which is 96% compliant with the Green Destinations standard). At ITB Berlin, Slovenia received the award Sustainable Destinations 2018 Top 100 Best of the Planet – Best of Europe, thereby becoming one of six top sustainable destinations in the world and the best in Europe. The scheme also received the prestigious award National Geographic World Legacy Destination Leadership, conferred by the renowned National Geographic Society to the Slovenian Tourist Board in 2017 and special attention at the last meeting of the Pacific Asia Tourism Association (PATA).   

In addition to these awards, the ZSST recently received another recognition from the European Travel Commission (ETC), which in June 2019 published a report on European sustainability schemes and their role in promoting sustainability and competitiveness in European tourism and recognised Slovenia as the only destination in the study to systematically approach the implementation of sustainability schemes.

Slovenia Green destinations are regularly included in the list of hundred most sustainable destinations in the world, which confirms their focus on sustainable tourism and rewards all efforts, measures and activities for continuous improvement. As part of the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism, the destinations, after receiving the label, annually report on their progress, implement the measures in the Action Plan and apply for recertification every three years. In this way, the Slovenian Tourist Board, which manages the scheme, promotes a continued drive for improvement and progress in sustainable destination management. 

Read more about the certification and the Green story of Slovenia. 

2019 GGDD International Conference

The GGDD Conference is held annually by the international organisation Green Destinations Foundation and partners. It is one of the most important global sustainable tourism events. The topic of this year's GGDD focuses on the current problem of overtourism and directing tourism flows. In cooperation with selected experts and distinguished international speakers in Zagreb and Mali Lošinj, the aim is to find answers to these challenges of global tourism in the light of green solutions so as to diversify tourism flows, appropriately promote sustainable destinations and design sustainable tourism products; that is, to take into account decarbonisation and adaptation to climate change.

 At the conference in Zagreb, the Slovenian Tourist Board presented participants with the ZSST and promotional activities for effectively directing tourism flows and deseasonalisation. Selected destinations holding the Slovenia Green label presented their best practices in individual panels. The full programme is available at the here. 

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