Next week, Wednesday to Saturday – the 32nd Alpe-Adria Green and Active Tourism Fair
Dear media representatives!
Next week, from 23 to 26 March, the main tourist fair event in Slovenia, the 32nd Alpe-Adria Fair, will take place at the GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre, focusing on green and active tourism. Active holidays in nature will be presented by many actors in our country, such as the Slovenian Tourist Board, the Slovenian Tourist Association with over 150 members, the Ljubljana Tourism, the Slovenian Fishing Association, the Slovenian Mountaineering Association, the GIZ Hiking and Cycling, the Slovenia Forest Service, the Slovenian Tourist Guides Association, and others.
Over 130 tourism providers from Slovenia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Italy, and Nepal will present themselves at the 32nd Alpe-Adria Fair. Croatia, in cooperation with the Croatian Tourist Board, will present itself at the largest stand so far. Over 30 providers present novelties and the most important events in destinations from Umag to Dubrovnik and the Croatian inland.
THE JAKOB AWARD
The commission shortlisted the Jakob Prize on the topic of Innovative Cycling Experiences and selected five finalists: the Juliana Bike – Circular long-distance cycling route – Julian Alps Community and Mountaineering Association of Slovenia; ArheKoloVrhnika and KoloVagaBevke: family cycling adventures in Vrhnika – Škrateljc, the Institute for Culture, Education and Sports; Who makes up your breakfast? By bike to the source! – the Charming Slovenia, the Herbal Glamping Resort Ljubno, the Cycling Ecohotel Koroš and Mountain Biking Park on Farms – the Ekohotel Koroš, the Kreatur Company; and the Cycling for People with Disabilities – ARS VIVA,the Institute for Cultural Integration and Socialization of Social Groups, which received the title of Ambassador of the 2022 project. The latter offers bicycle rental adapted to people with reduced mobility, thus enabling the improvement of the quality of life of vulnerable groups and their active integration into society. The award will be presented at the grand opening on the morning of March 23.
THE ACCOMPANYING PROGRAM OF THE 32nd ALPE-ADRIA
The events in the exhibition halls include a rich accompanying program with lectures, presentations, round tables, and press conferences.
The full accompanying program can be viewed on the website
The first day of the fair is especially resounding. In addition to the opening ceremony with the Jakob Prize, the current round table is the Post-Corona Revival of Slovenian Tourism in the Light of Recent Events in Ukraine at which the President of the Tourist Journalists of Slovenia Drago Bulc and his interlocutors will talk about the revival of tourism in the face of a declining pandemic and the possible consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war for global and especially European tourism.
FROM THE PROGRAM
Wednesday, March 23
The Marmorna Hall Lobby, 13:00-13:30
The lecture: A Digital Transformation of Tourism
The digital transformation is based on the equipment and personnel, information systems, changes in organizational structure and culture or mentality. It is a leap in thinking that can increase added value, reduce the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and personalize the guest’s experience. Tourism is people, but people use technology, and the digital transformation will become part of the future tourism development. The purpose of the lecture will be to help understand what digital transformation means and how we can make it happen.
Lecturer: dr. Ljubica Knežević Cvelbar
Organizer: the SRIPT
The 3 Urška Hall, 14:00-15:30
The round table: Slovenia – a Country Friendly to Motorhome Tourism
Among all segments of tourism, in the period of the pandemic, mainly due to travel in the bubble, the fastest growing is the motorhome and caravanning tourism. The round table will discuss how Slovenia should become a top motorhome destination by expanding motorhome stops in all 212 municipalities.
Participants:
– Ilona Stermecki, acting Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board
– Dušan Skerbiš, Project Manager of the Network of Motorhome Stops in Slovenia
– Roman Bauer, owner and Director of Mein PLatz in Munich, one of the largest caravanning guides and portals in Europe
– Ladko Petretič, Mayor of the Municipality of Kostanjevica, where there is one of the best organized and occupied PZA in Slovenia
– Tomo Ilijaš, owner and Director of the ARCTUR Company, a presentation of the Smart Camper Stop technology solutions
– Primož Kotnik, Director of Robeta Company, the manufacturer of innovative motorhomes
– Anton Čič, owner of the PZA at the P’r Čič Tourist Farm in Dolsko near Ljubljana
Moderator: Drago Bulc
Organizer: The Slovenian Tourist Journalists’ Association and the Slovenian Motorhome Stop Network
Thursday, March 24
The Marmorna Hall Lobby, 10:30-12:00
The presentation of the 10 best thematic trails in the period 2011-2021
As part of the My Country, Beautiful and Hospitable Competition of the Slovenian Tourist Association, thematic routes in Slovenia were assessed between 2011 and 2021 – together with the Slovenia Forest Service and the Slovenia Outdoor. The commission looked at more than 400 routes and selected the best ones each year. They will present ten winning trails.
Coordinator: Jože Prah
Organizer: The Tourist Association of Slovenia in cooperation with the Slovenia Forest Service and the Slovenia Outdoor Association
Friday, March 25
The 3 Urška Hall ,4 11:00–12:30
The premiere of the documentary film about the green story of Slovenia: The Slovenia Green, and a conversation with the main protagonist Aljaž Tepina
The new documentary about the green story of Slovenia, The Slovenia Green, through the statements and stories of the locals, outlines Slovenia as a small, authentic, in fact still undiscovered destination in the world, where warm-hearted and hospitable people live. The film focuses on the benefits and advantages for visitors that Slovenia offers through its sustainable orientation, that the Slovenian Tourist Board promotes through the Slovenia Green Brand. Part of the film is also the new cycling gastronomic route the Slovenia Green Gourmet Route, which connects nine green destinations with the Slovenia Green Certificate.
Organizer: the Slovenian Tourist Board
Saturday, March 26
The Marmorna Hall Lobby, 11:30–12:30
The lecture: the Juliana Bike and the connecting tour cycling network
The Juliana Bike circular long-distance touring bike trail follows the philosophy of the older hiking sister Juliana Trail and is basically part of the Slovenian Touring Bike Trail (STKP). The seven stages, connected in an independent circle along the edge of the Julian Alps, run counter clockwise. The marked Juliana Bike touring bike trail will take you along local roads, bike paths, forest paths or cart tracks. In sensitive natural habitats, it will also demand considerable respect of nature, plants, and animals. Upgrading the Juliana Bike is an established network of more than 650 km of routes suitable for touring cycling and connecting all destinations in the Julian Alps Association with each other and on the Juliana Bike route.
The organizer: Julian Alps Association (Bohinj Tourism) and the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia
The 15th GASTexpo & ICE CREAM INTERNATIONAL FLAVOURS FAIRS «
It is possible to visit as many as two fairs with one ticket, as the 15th International Professional Taste Fairs GASTexpo&Ice Cream, organized by the Primorski Sejem, are traditionally held at the same time. Exhibitors will present a wide range of gastronomy, from beverages, coffee, confectionery, bakery, ice cream, wine to catering and hotel equipment. For the first time, the digitization and automation of the hospitality sector in the form of a waiter robot will be presented. Anyone who is professionally or amateurly enthusiastic about cooking can attend free lectures, workshops, and interactive trainings – from the pizza baking school, confectionery and bakery workshops, making various foods using professional equipment, to making coffee, beer and Latte Art&Barista workshops. The event will also be enriched by the international COMPETITIONS – participants will compete in the preparation of pizza for the flattering title of the “Slovenia’s best pizza maker” and the selection of the “GASTexpo beer of the year”.
OPENING HOURS and the ENTRY FEE
The fair is open from Wednesday, March 23, to Friday, March 25, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. By purchasing a ticket at the entrance to the fairgrounds, each visitor receives the fair Oddih Magazine i.e. the catalogue with a list of exhibitors and a description of the event. You can browse through it here
A regular ticket costs € 7, € 5 with a discount, and a family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) is also available for € 15. Cheaper tickets, at a price of € 5, can be obtained by visitors on the website, during the Happy Hour and members of various associations and societies.
We enclose an invitation to the grand opening: HERE. Welcome to join us on Wednesday at 10.30 in the Urška Hall.
Thank you very much for your media attention. We are glad to be available for more detailed information.
Mateja Briški, 32. Alpe-Adria, Gospodarsko razstavišče: mateja.briski@gr-sejem.si
Matjaž Turk, 15. Sejmi okusov GASTexpo, Primorski sejem: matjaz@gast.si