In September 2025, Co-operation Ireland's All-Island Local Authority Forum embarked on a transformative study visit to Slovenia, aiming to harness insights from one of the global leaders in sustainable destination management. The report generated from this visit, "Be Inspired by International Best Practice: Sustainable Tourism Development in Slovenia," serves as a roadmap for tourism bodies, local authorities, and government agencies across Ireland.

Slovenia’s success lies in its ability to maintain a clear, consistently communicated vision that aligns government, industry, and community efforts. This shared vision has propelled sustainable tourism practices to the forefront, establishing Slovenia as a model of excellence and innovation.

Key to Slovenia’s strategy are its 38 well-resourced Destination Management Organisations (DMOs), distributed across four macro-regions. These DMOs are instrumental in translating national strategies into localized actions, embedding sustainability deep within community practices. Slovenia's Green accreditation framework exemplifies this commitment through practical, transferable standards that guide destinations towards ecological and economical sustainability.

The Slovenian approach also intricately weaves gastronomy, heritage, and outdoor experiences to offer distinctive tourism products, all anchored in hyper-local sourcing. This not only supports local economies but enriches the authenticity of visitor experiences. A national tourism intelligence platform, NiST, drives data-informed decision-making, presenting a valuable model applicable to the Irish context.

Furthermore, the "Borderless" European Capital of Culture initiative, a collaborative project between Slovenia and Italy at Nova Gorica/Gorizia, serves as a blueprint for cross-border cultural and tourism initiatives. This model resonated deeply with Forum members, aligning well with Ireland's vision of promoting shared communities and fostering peace through tourism.

Investment in human resources underpins Slovenia’s high service standards, supported by specialist tourism colleges and the STO's tourism academy. The empowerment of staff through devolved responsibilities ensures a continuous elevation of service excellence.

Feedback from the Co-operation Ireland delegation was overwhelmingly positive, with all participants acknowledging the alignment of the study with their council's sustainability and tourism objectives. Each member felt equipped to advocate for new sustainable tourism initiatives within their own councils in the ensuing year.

For detailed insights and strategic actions recommended by this enlightening visit, the full report is available for download here. It presents a series of concrete, time-bound actions across sectors, poised to elevate Ireland’s sustainable tourism practices to new heights.

#Sustainable tourism #Community-based tourism #Destination management #Ecotourism #Sustainable destinations #Responsible travel