Smart Tourism – Maribor/Pohorje – SLOVENIA
Maribor is an important area for tourism in Slovenia (environment, food products, and gastronomy). The area extends to 2.170 km2 and hosts 322.000 inhabitants. Maribor is nowadays firmly positioned on the tourist map of the world as the European Capital of Culture 2012, one of the TOP 10 tourist destinations in the world in the opinion of various media in the past few years, the centre of one of the fastest-growing destinations in Slovenia, the city of the oldest vine in the world, attracting many visitors from all over the world to the Old Vine House.Main needs of the Test Area in terms of Smart Transition.
Development and utilization of the tourist economy and related opportunities. Tourist consumption increase. Increasing the offer of Unique GREEN ACTIVE products and services. Increasing the stay of boutique guests. Increasing the focus on vital products. Sport, Cultural heritage, City, MICE, Culinary experience. Increasing relevant sports activities (currently, 45 % sport-based stays): European; Youth; Senior competitions.
Innovation aspects of the Pilot Activity
Creating new and efficient networks between regional tourism stakeholders. Hotels; Caterers; Restaurants; Service (sport, relaxation) providers. Creating an ACTION PLAN for effective collaboration of the local and regional tourist services network.
Regional Stakeholder Group (RSG) in a quadruple helix (4H) logic
Policymakers: Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Tourism and Hospitality Chamber of Slovenia, Government office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, Regional municipalities, Slovenian Chamber of Commerce, Strategic Development & Innovation Partnership for sustainable tourism. Academia: University of Maribor. Business: Local winemakers, Small and medium hoteliers, Technology transfer providers, Entrepreneurs in ICT for tourism, Local passenger transport. Civil society Maribor – Pohorje Tourist Board, Maribor Development Agency, Citizens, Youth.
