Europe in miniature: Slovenia is the Convention & Culture Partner of ITB Berlin 2017, a corresponding agreement was reached on 15 September 2016 by David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin, and members of the Slovenian Tourist Board in the presence of the Slovenian ambassador Her Excellency Ms Marta Kos Marko and other high-ranking representatives of the Slovenian tourism industry in Munich.
Maja Pak, director of the Slovenian Tourist Board: “Slovenia has pledged itself to sustainability. Many nature activities and projects have already been implemented. As the Convention & Culture Partner of ITB Berlin 2017 our focus will be on sustainability where culture is concerned.“
At the ITB Berlin Convention this green land will be showcasing its cultural and natural attractions to trade visitors at the world's leading travel trade show. On the stand of this small country, a member of the EU, at ITB Berlin 2017 the main theme will also be Slovenia’s ‘cities of culture’. In particular, Slovenia is promoting sustainable tourism and activities in nature. This year the capital Ljubljana received the European Green Capital Award.
Slovenia is a European mixture of different landscapes: the Alps, the Adriatic and the Pannonian Basin. The many natural attractions and historical influences from the Roman Empire, the Habsburg Monarchy and the Balkans have contributed to a flourishing cultural environment in Slovenia today. Tourism in this country, which became independent only 25 years ago, currently accounts for around 12 per cent of GDP.
“With Slovenia we are delighted to have secured a young and emerging country as the Convention & Culture Partner in 2017“, said David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin. “As a country that blends so many different cultural influences it has developed its own unique character which is fascinating more and more tourists. We are convinced that by taking part in ITB Berlin Slovenia will gain an extra boost.“
“Slovenia is Europe in miniature“, said Majda Rozina Dolenc, director of the Slovenian Tourist Board. “We are an example of how, as a small country, it is possible to strategically expand in the global tourism market by promoting quality and sustainability. ITB Berlin is an important platform for showcasing our country to a broad international audience.“
As the Convention & Culture Partner of the ITB Berlin Convention, the world's leading think tank of the global travel industry, Slovenia will be focusing on its cities of culture and themes surrounding the architect Joe Plečnik in 2017. There will also be an emphasis on cultural and artistic events and the Reformation.
