Slovenia – the Globe’s First Certified Green Destination

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In September 2016, Slovenia became the world’s first certified green destination, based on an assessment by the Netherlands-based organisation Green Destinations which established 96 %-compliance across 100 criteria.

As you might imagine, sustainability is at the very heart of what we do, and we’re now being rewarded for our efforts. Slovenia is becoming known on the international tourism parquet as a petite green country which is taking big steps in sustainable tourism. Tolmin, which lies at the Slovenian Italian border, has been named Alpine Town of the Year 2016 for sustainable development and for strengthening the Alpine identity of the local population. Similarly, our capital Ljubljana won the prestigious European Green Capital Award 2016 and was the first destination that received a Golden Certificate of Slovenia Green Destination. Ljubljana was also declared one of the Top 100 Sustainable Destinations, having received the title already in 2014.

Slovenian Tourism Board is created the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism which promotes the preservation of the environment, local authenticity and higher quality of life. Apart from Ljubljana, the list also includes Slovenia Green Destinations Nova Gorica, Brda, Kranjska Gora, Maribor, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Bela Krajina and Velenje. The Green Scheme of Slovenian tourism now includes 17 destinations and 10 providers.

There are over 20,000 animal and plant species on slightly more than 20,000 sq. km of territory. Over one third of Slovenia is included in the Natura 2000 network – a European network of special protected areas that were chosen by European Union members in order to preserve important biological diversity in Europe. Slovenia is the third most forested country in Europe and according to the amount of river water per inhabitant, among the water richest countries in Europe. Slovenia carefully preserves its natural richness, which is a feature of all Slovenian regions.

Some people call Slovenia a “Garden of Europe”. In spite of the poetic spirit of such a definition, there is definitely a bit of truth in it. This rather petite territory boasts of such a variety of landscape features, that it gives an impression of a mosaic, composed of most diverse and attractive sections of natural scenery, interesting for incentive experiences and variety of MICE related activities.

See the I Feel 25 story about the green heart of Europe.

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[Partial source: www.slovenia.info, www.ukom.gov.si, Photo: www.slovenia.info]