Heritage trails through Dolenjska and Bela Krajina in Slovenia: A multi-stakeholder approach to tourism development

Abstract

One of the crucial methodologies for growing and developing a level of tourism which is sustainable and enhances the totality of local and regional environments is a multi-stakeholder approach to tourism development. In this paper, we present the case of the 'Heritage trails through Dolenjska and Bela krajina in SE Slovenia' in which sustainable rural development (we take this to include cultural & heritage, vinicultural & gastronomic, as well as ecological tourism) is one of the key elements of the integral mix of business economy, viz. development of the region in the SE of Slovenia. The integral approach showed from the very beginning of project activities, within the Novo Mesto chamber of commerce, its long-time implementation until the present, as one of the key products within the tourist destination of Dolenjska, Bela Krajina and Kocevsko-Ribniska. It takes an integrated approach in terms of start-up, implementation and development and is supported by and benefits from the notion of a core of multiple stakeholders.