Conference on the Challenges of Outdoor Tourism in Bohinj Brought Together Key Stakeholders
The Faculty of Tourism of the University of Maribor, in cooperation with Turizem Bohinj and with the support of Julian Alps Community and Slovenia Outdoor GIZ, organized a discussion on the challenges of outdoor tourism on March 6 in Bohinj, as part of the Bohinj Ski Touring Festival. The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders who are directly or indirectly involved in the Slovenian outdoor tourism and outdoor sports scene.
The plenary session was opened by Martin Šolar, who spoke about respectful and responsible visitation of the fragile mountain environment. Klemen Belhar then examined the motivations and behavior of outdoor tourists from an anthropological perspective. Jon Heshka, a Canadian colleague of the Faculty of Tourism, presented different aspects of risk management in various high-risk outdoor activities, while Norwegian professor and researcher Truls Engstroem discussed the role of modern technologies and tools in supporting the development and marketing of outdoor products and destinations.
At the round table, moderated by Marjetka Rangus (Faculty of Tourism, University of Maribor), representatives of different stakeholder groups exchanged perspectives and viewpoints on the topic. Dubravka Kalin (Tourism Directorate, Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport), Špela Berlot Veselko (CIPRA Slovenia), Aleš Zdešar (Triglav National Park), Klemen Langus (Turizem Bohinj / Julian Alps Community), and Grega Šilc (Hike&Bike Agency) highlighted various challenges related to balancing the growing number of visitors and demand for nature-based activities with limited space, nature conservation, and the quality of life of local communities.
The event, which also provided opportunities for networking and social interaction, concluded with a specialized workshop on risk assessment and evaluation. The workshop was prepared by Jon Heshka for Slovenian outdoor providers and destinations. The excellent feedback on the entire event confirmed the importance of knowledge exchange, connecting stakeholders, and strengthening dialogue about the coordinated and balanced development and management of outdoor tourism in Slovenia.
