A new generation of Tourism graduates

A new generation of 25 Diplomates and Masters of the Faculty of Tourism of the University of Maribor received their Bachelor's and Master's diplomas at a graduation ceremony on Thursday, 6 June 2024. They were presented with their diplomas by the Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marjetka Rangus.

On 6 June 2024, the Faculty of Tourism of the University of Maribor welcomed the ninth generation of graduates of higher professional, university and master's degree programmes, who received their diploma and master's diploma certificates in the solemn atmosphere of the Knights' Hall of the Brežice Castle.

The 8 graduates of the Professional Degree Programme, 10 graduates of the University Degree Programme and 7 graduates of the Master's Degree Programme who graduated between March 2023 and March 2024 were awarded their diplomas and Master's Degree certificates for the first time in this capacity by the Dean of the Faculty of Tourism of the University of Maribor, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marjetka Rangus.

This year's keynote speaker was Mr Boštjan Misja, Director of Tourism Podčetrtek, Bistrica ob Sotli and Kozje, who had a few encouraging words for the graduates as they began their careers.

In her speech, student representative Jožica Vohar, a graduate of the Master's degree programme, thanked all those who had participated and helped in their success and looked back on the journey they had travelled and, above all, the one that lay ahead of them.

The event was enlivened by performances by Katarina Petrič and Martin Urek, students of the Brežice Music School, and moderated by Lect. Hana Kuhar. The gathering continued in a relaxed atmosphere in the beautiful castle courtyard.

The Faculty of Tourism is proud of the 2024 generation and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the graduates and wish them good luck, perseverance in their future path and good use of the knowledge they have acquired.

List of graduates and their final theses

Professional Studies Programme Tourism and Contemporary Tourism Practices

BRIGITA BURUŠIĆ graduated under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barbara Pavlakovič Farrell and co-mentorship of Mateja Bašić with the title PERCEIVED VALUE OF THE DESTINATION "MUNICIPALITY OF MURTER-KORNATI".

TARIK DŽINIĆ graduated under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Boštjan Brumen with the title EMPLOYING AI TOOLS IN TOURISM: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT GENERATION IN A WORK ENVIRONMENT.

BERINA HALILOVIĆ graduated under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maja Turnšek with the title ATTITUDES OF LOCALS TOWARDS FILM FESTIVALS IN SARAJEVO.

NIKA IZA JARC graduated under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marko Koščak and co-mentorship of Assist. Nejc Pozvek with the title CHALLENGES OF HIGH MOUNTAIN TOURISM IN THE MOUNT EVEREST REGION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

TADEJ NERED graduated under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jasna Potočnik Topler with the title COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF A TOURIST GUIDE AND THEIR REPRESENTATION IN MOVIES MY LIFE IN RUINS AND JUNGLE CRUISE.

ANAMARI PUŠNIK graduated under the mentorship of Assist. Prof. Dr. Barbara Pavlakovič Farrell and co-mentorship of Assist. Nejc Pozvek with the title STRATEGIC PLANNING IN TOURISM - STARTING POINTS FOR THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OF HRASTNIK.

ALEKSANDAR TANASIĆ graduated under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barbara Pavlakovič Farrell with a thesis entitled SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN TRAFFIC AFTER THE PANDEMIC - THE WESTERN BALKANS EXAMPLE.

NIKOLA TANASIĆ graduated under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marko Koščak and the co-mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tomi Špindler with the title CULTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURE AS AN ASPECT OF SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE TOURISM IN THE TREBINJSKO-FOČANSKA REGION.

University study programme Tourism and Tourism: Cooperation and Development

MOJCA BRAČUN graduated under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saša Poljak Istenič and the co-mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vita Petek with the title DEVELOPMENT OF WINE TOURISM IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PODČETRTEK.

KATJA FAKIN graduated under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jasna Potočnik Topler with the title REPRESENTATION OF DESTINATIONS AND EFFECTS OF TOURISM IN THE FILMS DIRTY GRANDPA AND EAT, PRAY, LOVE.

KARMEN JARKOVIČ graduated under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Mitja Gorenak with the title WORKING ENVIRONMENT CUSTOMIZED FOR GENERATION »Z« - A CASE STUDY OF STUDENT AT FACULTY OF TOURISM.

NIKA MARTINA MIŠIĆ graduated under the mentorship of Assist. Prof. Dr. Maja Borlinič Gačnik with the title DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL EVENT "SUMMER IN SAMOBOR".

LOVRO MRKONJIĆ graduated under the mentorship of Assist. Prof. Dr. Saša Poljak Istenič and co-mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vita Petek with the title WINE TOURISM OF TOWN SAMOBOR.

KATARINA OŠTRBENK graduated under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maja Turnšek and co-supervision of Assist. Tjaša Alegro with the title 360° VIRTUAL TOURS IN TOURISM.

MIRJANA PESHEVSKA graduated under the mentorship of Assist. Prof. Dr. Saša Poljak Istenič and co-mentorship of Assist. Prof. Dr. Vita Petek with the title GASTRONOMIC TOURISM IN OHRID.

VERA STEPANOV graduated under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maja Turnšek and co-mentorship of Assist. Katja Kokot with the title THE ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF INCLUDING SLOVENIAN HEALTH RESORTS IN THE »EUROPEAN ROUTE OF HISTORIC THERMAL TOWNS«.

NATAN TOPIĆ graduated under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marjetka Rangus with the title THE ROLES OF LOCAL COMMUNITY IN THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OF SAMOBOR.

MILICA VUČIĆ graduated under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maja Turnšek with the title YOUTH SELF-REPORTING ON CHANGES IN MOTIVATION FOR TRAVELLING AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Master's study programme Tourism and Destinations and Experiences
LUKA GOŠEK completed his Master's degree under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Jana Goriup with the title GEN Z AND DARK TOURISM ATTRACTIONS BASED ON SERIAL KILLERS.

MARICA ILIĆ completed her Master's thesis under the supervision of Assist. Prof. Dr. Milica Rančić Demir and the supervision of Assist. Prof. Dr. Andreja Trdina with the title CHALLENGES AND ADVANTAGES OF USING MOBILE APPLICATIONS IN ACCESSIBLE TOURISM: UNDERSTANDING THE PERCEPTION OF SIGN LANGUAGE USERS.

EVA NOVAK SVETIČ completed her Master's thesis under the mentorship of Assist. Prof. Dr. Andreja Trdina and the co-mentorship of Assist. Prof. Dr. Anja Mlakar with the thesis "EL CAMINO CALLS" CONTEMPORARY PILGRIMAGES THROUGH MOTIVES AND IDENTITY PROCESSES: THE CASE OF SLOVENIAN PILGRIMS ON THE EL CAMINO ROUTE.

ELIZABETA STRUNJAK completed her Master's thesis under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marko Koščak entitled DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN PROTECTED AREAS WHIT A VISITORS MANAGEMENT MODEL: THE EXAMPLE OF SPECIAL BOTANICAL RESERVE DUBRAVICA.

ARIANE VLAHEN completed her Master's degree under the supervision of Assist. Prof. Dr. Andreja Trdina and the co-mentorship of Salla Jutila, Ma. Soc. Sc with the title MEDIA CONSTRUCTIONS OF TRAVEL-RELATED EMOTIONS: THE CASES OF FLIGHT SHAME AND TRAIN BRAG.

JOŽICA VOHAR completed her Master's degree under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maja Turnšek and co-supervision of Assist. Tjaša Alegro with the title CURRENT STATE AND POSSIBILITIES FOR THE INCLUSION OF DESIGN THINKING IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHING OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM.

ŽIGA ZDOVC completed his Master's degree under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Boštjan Brumen with the title THE RISE OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY - A STUDY OF THE ACCEPTANCE OF CRYPTOCURRENCIES IN THE SLOVENIAN HOTEL INDUSTRY.