THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TOURISM IN SLOVENIA

Abstract

The aim of our study was to present and analyze the development of rural tourism in Slovenia. Slovenia can be considered a small green oasis positioned in the sunny foothills of the Alps, which gives it an important competitive advantage in modern times when environmental quality is rapidly becoming an integral part of the perceptived quality of life. Obtaining independence from Yugoslavia during 1990, the transition to a market economy, integration process into the European Union, introduction to private property and awareness of the need to preserve and nurture rural areas represent the factors that are combined to enable the start implementation of the strategy for the development of rural tourism. Slovenia has shown a high level of success in the development of rural tourism, which is also significant in terms of its impact on European rural tourism and being a model for the development of rural tourism in the neighboring countries.