Štanjel has been selected as the Slovenian case study within the project. This creates an opportunity to explore how tourism can be developed in a way that respects the local area, preserves natural and cultural heritage and creates new opportunities for the local community.
The meeting brought together local residents, tourist guides, tourism and service providers, as well as representatives of the Regional Development Agency of Karst and Brkini and the Municipality of Komen.
The first workshop focused mainly on sharing views, experiences and expectations. Participants discussed the opportunities and challenges facing tourism in Štanjel and explored how the local community can actively participate in shaping future tourism development.
One of the key messages of the meeting was clear: local residents want to be involved in discussions and in shaping the future of tourism. This reflects one of the core principles of ENRICH-US — that sustainable eco-cultural tourism should be developed through cooperation between public authorities, local stakeholders, service providers and communities.
The discussion marked the beginning of a joint process of exploring solutions. This process continued during the second participatory workshop held on 15 September.