European Paths of Peace Tourism product for the 3rd millennium Ministry of SME & Tourism Slovenia European Paths of Peace Tourism product for the 3rd millennium Sonja Sibila LEBE, M.Sc. Counsellor to the government

Statistics for the year 1999 tourism needs peace to be successful - the time of the Kosovo crises - tourism needs peace to be successful season 1999 season 2000 Croatia - 16,3% + 62,5 (January - July) Hungary - 13,8% + 11,3 (January - June) Slovenia - 9,5% + 26,0 (January - July) fear kills tourism even in distant countries people need a feeling of security to decide for travel  

Who Has visited these Countries in spite of the War in Kosovo? Tourists who have known these countries before have had a good informed consultant in their travel agency What helped were: good personal experiences in the region in the past knowledge - reliable information

Slovenia promoting the Global Code of Ethics tourism needs peace as true as this statement is also the next one: peace needs tourism because it strengthens understanding among people and nations because it strengthens readiness to do something to keep peace - concerning politics and education as a stability-factor in the world

Globalni kodeks etike za turizem Translated into Slovenian language The text corresponds to the tenor of Slovenian Strategy on tourism development (1995) sustainable development economic development of rural areas prevention of culture and nature etc. New aspect: fortifying peace in Southern Europe Published in tourism monthly TUR!ZEM (free) Copy sent to all shareholders in tourism

Why is Slovenia implementing the Global Code of Ethics? Importance of tourism as a factor of (self)education and raising of consciousness Knowing (loving) a certain region or country Knowing and understanding people living there, their customs, their culture, their folklore - no mass tourism Establishing contact to local inhabitants while visiting their land, developing sympathies and understanding for each other

Project for the 3rd Millennium: European Paths of Peace Tourist project that allies 3 European states: Austria, Italy, Slovenia through common history (of war) in the past through cross-border co-operation today through more and more common projects in the field of tourism (rural tourism, biking and hiking (panoramic) paths project of “European Paths of Peace”

Italy Austria Slovenia

Terms of Living in the Region Place where the Slavonic, the Germanic and the Romance culture (language) meet Tromeja, Tre confini, Dreiländereck - a triple border frequent changes of state authorities; one natural entity, three different states; mountainous region - demographic problems how to earn the living - no industry possible, some agriculture and - nowadays - tourism

History Museum in Kobarid (Caporetto) European Council Museum Reward for the year 1993 Showing the uselessness of war by explaining the struggle of the Soča (Isonzo) front Museum - not glorifying the war: Focusing the misery of participants - names, letters, personal belongings of soldiers Who suffers? The “little man”, local inhabitants, the nature and - the humanity. Ernest Hemingway: Farewell to the Arms “To whom the bells are ringing?” To you.

Enough for an International Project? Place of collective human memory - Participants of 17 different nations Looking for family roots Reminder for humanity Possibility of visiting places of battles, some visitors want to study the war strategy Incorporating environment - elements of natural and cultural heritage Juncture of the Mediterranean and Alpine climate, River Soča, Karst as a unique natural phenomenon, Roman monuments, gastronomy… Good possibilities for leisure Biggest Casinos in Slovenia, best wines, sports

Possibilities for Actve Holidays Sports in the Region The landscape is unique Good organised offer on “adrenaline” sports: mountaineering, bungee-jumping; mountain)biking, hiking, horse riding; One of the clearest European rivers - Soča - Isonzo with the indigenous Soča trout: fishing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting; Winter sports in all the three countries; common bid for the Olympic games (in 2002 and 2006 - perhaps in 2010 again?)

Future . . . ? World-Peace Needs Tourism The (tourism) progress of the region depends 1. On long term cross-border co-operation PHARE project in 1997 - readiness to collaborate Panoramic paths (cycling, hiking) Common brochure for the rural tourism sector and on 2. First class international marketing

Ministry of SME & Tourism Slovenia Thank you for your attention Sonja Sibila Lebe, M. Sc.. Counsellor to the Government