PRESS RELEASE

On World Tourism Day, Slovenia was recognised as the most sustainability-oriented destination in the

world

Ljubljana, 27 September – This year's World Tourism Day is marked with a special event. The Global Green Destination Day (GGDD) international conference, ending tomorrow in Ljubljana, the European Green Capital 2016, emphasises the increasing need for sustainable development and green orientation. Renowned experts, together with representatives of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), , Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), acknowledged international organisations in the field of sustainable development, such as Umanotera, TIES – the International Ecotourism Society and Travelife, as well as others, discussed the topics important for tourism as well as for society and the environment. The best practices of green and sustainable tourism implemented in Slovenia and across the world will be awarded at the special evening ceremony.

Green Community from Indonesia to the USA

The Global Green Destinations Day (GGDD), this year's central event organised in Slovenia on the topic of sustainable tourism, attracted the green community from all over the world. 350 experts and attendees from different countries participated in the two-day event held in Ljubljana, the European Green Capital 2016. The majority of them came from Europe – the Netherlands, Croatia, Macedonia, Great Britain, Portugal – joined by participants from East Timor, Botswana, Rwanda, Indonesia, the Republic of South Africa and the USA. In terms of the number of participants, the GGDD is considered the biggest conference dealing with the world's sustainable destinations thus far.

The welcome speeches by Eva Štravs Podlogar, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Maja Pak, MA, Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board, Petra Stušek, Managing Director of Ljubljana Tourism, Albert Salman, President of Green Destinations, and Luigi Cabrini, President of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and consultant to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) were followed by lectures dealing with topics such as Tourism as a Driving Force for Peace, Implementation of Sustainable Development Standards in the Tourism Sector, Reasons for Sustainable Development and Green in Tourism, Innovative Approaches in Communicating Green Tourism Offers, Impact of Tourism on the Environment, etc. The Green Travel map will also be presented, while the activities within the scope of the GGDD also include workshops, exhibitions of green offerings and the Student Forum organised by the Faculty of Economics of the University of Ljubljana, the Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica from Portorož and the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Maribor. At the Green Outdoor Classroom, organised by Ljubljana Tourism, Slovenian and foreign guests will learn about green points and sustainable measures adopted in Ljubljana, and will also embark on a special study tour across Slovenia after the official conclusion of the GGDD. Fifteen foreign journalists participating in international conferences will report on the particularities of our country.

Slovenia will build on its sustainable tourism with full confidence

"I am proud that,in the last 25 years, Slovenian tourism has grown at an above-average pace and that today it earns almost 13% of Slovenia's gross domestic product. Contributing to this result is also our commitment to its green and sustainable development. For Slovenia as a destination, the Global Green Destination Day, as one of the biggest global events on the topic of green and sustainable tourism, is a turning point. Slovenia is the first country in the world to be assessed in the field of sustainability as a whole.  "This is a great commendation and commitment for Slovenia, since one of the tasks of our Ministry will be the further stimulation of the creation of innovative sustainability-oriented tourist products and services," was the message of Zdravko Počivalšek, Minister of Economic Development and Technology, at the beginning of the GGDD.

"On these two days, the eyes of the world's sustainability-oriented public will be focused on Slovenia. The world celebrates green tourism here in Slovenia, in a country where tourism is based on the principles of sustainable development. A few years ago, all key players in the field of Slovenian tourism committed to the development of sustainable tourism by adopting the 2012–2016 Slovenian Tourism Development Strategy. I am glad that this direction proved to be the right choice. Through the integration of the sustainability principles in all our measures and the inclusion of numerous specific activities, the Ministry for Economic Development and Technology and the Slovenian Tourist Board

stimulated the development of their respective fields, while at the same time these guidelines were realised in the economy. The decision proved to be the right one, and today it is also considered as a basic and necessary guideline for the next strategic period. Notwithstanding that the primary focus of sustainable tourism is mainly on green tourism, we have not forgotten the second pillar of sustainable development, i.e. the social component, which is also a topic of today's World Tourism Day – Tourism for All. Without any doubt, Slovenia is a tourist destination, with one of its key competitive advantages being its preserved pristine natural and cultural environment that must also be protected in the future. Thus, our efforts will continue to support the measures to reach an even higher level of sustainable tourism. "We are proud that Slovenia is the first country in the world comprehensively assessed as per the Green Destinations standards and that our nation is a unique example of good practice for other countries of the world," Eva Štravs Podlogar, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, pointed out at the opening ceremony of the GGDD.

Maja Pak, MA, Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board, said: "At the Slovenian Tourist Board, we are very honoured and proud that by joining forces with strong stakeholders in Slovenian tourism we managed to realise the objectives set five years ago. At the first Days of Slovenian Tourism held in Portorož, we signed the Declaration on the Partnership for Sustainable Development and thus committed ourselves to take over the responsibility for a competitive and sustainable development of Slovenian tourism. Today, Slovenia is in the centre of attention as a host to the Global Green Destinations Day international conference and as a country making huge steps forward in the field of the development of sustainable tourism. For this purpose, last year at the Slovenian Tourist Board we developed the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism, "Slovenia Green", to promote environmental protection, preservation of our special local features and a better quality of life, and provide excellent experiences for tourists. In the international expert community, Slovenia is becoming recognised as a small country making big steps in the field of sustainable development. Slovenia being the first country in the world to be comprehensively assessed as per the Green Destinations standards is by itself a special acknowledgement of our efforts.

"The residents of Ljubljana are proud of the green soul of the city and we are happy that it is also recognised and appreciated by its visitors. Hosting the conference on sustainable tourism and the meeting of renowned experts in their respective fields in Ljubljana contributes to our additional recognition in the world. Namely, Ljubljana is the host of the first ever Global Green Destinations Day event, which is an opportunity to share experiences and acquire new knowledge in the field of sustainable tourism, which is also our future guidance," emphasised Petra Stušek, Director of Ljubljana Tourism.

"Slovenia diverted its attention from the mass tourism which represents a massive development of urban areas and large hotel and apartment complexes that negatively affect the environment. Slovenia also managed to eschew the

invasions of fast food franchises. Instead of these, you will find numerous vegetarian restaurants, which place Slovenia second in terms of the number of such restaurants in Europe. In Slovenia, the Green Destinations international organisations and the Association for Sustainable Tourism GoodPlace established a system to evaluate sustainable destinations. We discovered that Slovenia is governed by suitable policies which provide excellent conformity with the Green Destinations standards. Slovenia may, with great self-confidence, build sustainable tourism as a key pillar of its national tourist policy," said Albert Salman, President of Green Destinations.

Luigi Cabrini, President of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and consultant to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) emphasised that "the focus of tourism on sustainable operations is not a choice, but the only way for the tourist sector to continue its growth and provide benefits for the whole of society. However, this is not easy and it requires leaders and visionaries who think globally and look forward. Events such as the Global Green Destinations Day are crucial in stimulating and motivating important players, such as destinations. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council, with its criteria for destinations, hotels and tourist workers, provides a framework for all who wish to incorporate sustainability-oriented standards in their activities."

In expectation of the presentation of awards for the most green destination in the world

Among the GGDD participants there are great expectations regarding the presentation of the awards for the greenest destinations and providers of tourist services in the world, which will be held at the Ljubljana Castle this evening. At the special ceremony, the Top 100 Sustainable Destinations will be announced. Ljubljana and a group of destinations, which have already been presented with the Slovenia Green certificate, are also in the competition. The certificate has been developed by the Slovenian Tourist Board with the purpose of introducing sustainable models in Slovenian tourism and raising awareness regarding the careful stewardship of the environment. This evening, the new holders of the Slovenia Green brand will also be announced at the Ljubljana Castle. The Quality Coast certificates will be conferred as well. In addition, it will be revealed whether Slovenia, as the leading country in this field in the world, has passed a comprehensive assessment as per the Green Destinations standards and thus be bestowed with the Green Destination award. The Global Green Destinations Day is implemented by Green Destinations and the GoodPlace Sustainable Tourism Institute, supported by the main partner and co-organiser Ljubljana Tourism, with the Slovenian Tourist Board as the partner.

More information at: http://greendestinationsday.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Slovenian Tourist BoardDimičeva 13, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SlovenijaTel.: 00386 (0)1 5898 550, Fax: 00386 (0)1 5898 560www.slovenia.info/pressMaša Puklavec, Global Public Relations, press@slovenia.info

Ljubljana TourismTel: 01 3064 593Nina Kosin, Head of the Public Relations Officenina.kosin@visitljubljana.si