Achievements in Sustainable Tourism at Urban Municipality of Krško in 2023

Krško Urban Municipality joined the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism sponsored by the Slovenian Tourist Board in 2021 and began the process of adopting Slovenia Green Destination key. In 2022, Krško has received the GOLD Slovenia Green Destination key which ranks second of the Slovenian Tourist Board keys. This key confirms that a destination is recognized for its sustainable development.

Since acquiring the GOLD key, the Municipality has focused their efforts on sustainable tourist development. The following activities were performed in 2023 in these areas:

Education and capacity building for tourism stakeholders in the destination to promote transition into green economy and sustainable resource management. The tourism economy has received regular information about capacity building and its stakeholders were encouraged to take part in education on sustainable tourism.

• Zero-waste events
• Waste and waste packaging, mandatory reporting on waste for 2022 up to 31st of March 2023, legislation and future trends
• Call to sign the covenant: LESS plastics, MORE sustainability
• Covenant »Green and healthy, Slovenia-friendly office«
• Presentation of calls to enter the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism 2023
• Developing and acquiring Green certifications
• Efficient use of energy and water – Path to sustainable business and savings
• Tourism without single-use plastics
• Green experiences
• Integration of local food growers and craftsmen
• Digital marketing and digital transformation for tourist providers and digital promotion of tourist offer 

  

Development projects
Local community, institutions, companies, and associations in Krško destination are actively involved in different projects as part of tourism development. Projects below were implemented with the help of EU funds and have helped in the development of tourist destination:

• Slovenia’s ECO tastes
• Sport for Life
• Beekeeping mosaic
• Posavje full of opportunities 3P 2023 

 

Development of tourist infrastructure
The following public investments into buildings and equipment were carried out in 2023 for the purpose of tourist infrastructure development:

• Planted trees at RV/caravan park
• New information panels at Natura 2000 Vrbina nature reserve (Dry turf)
• Fixing up footpath, fountain and lookout point at Cavsar hill in Raka
• Fixing up Dul spring in Veliki Trn local community
• Replacement of tourist information panels when entering Krško municipality
• Procuring IR panels for the sparkling wine cellar
• Upgrading the terrace at Rajhenburg castle 

Maintaining cultural heritage
As part of museum activities and international thematic days, Krško Town Museum carried out events and promotions in cooperation with individuals working in intangible cultural heritage. Posavje region and Krško still remain home to different types of intangible cultural heritage. The following individuals (so-called holders of units which have yet to be registered) are already enlisted in intangible cultural heritage register and have participated in events, such as honeybread making (Honeybread hearts and Stary Workshop), herbal medicine (herbal workshop “From flowers to herbal medicine”) and basket-making (making of “pehar” straw baskets). Municipality has also hosted traditional events, such as the celebration in honour of St. Nicholas in Podbočje and Krško Polje local community (“Miklavževanje”), celebration in honour of St. George in Zdole (“Jurjevanje”), and celebration in honour of St. Martin (“Martinovanje”) at Leskovec pri Krškem Cultural Society and Krško Wine Cellar.
 
 

Green experiences
Boutique green experiences represent countermeasure for mass tourism. Krško destination and its tourist offer were included in Slovenia Green Gourmet Route connecting the best Slovenian gastronomical destinations. According to National Geographic, the route was ranked among top 25 destinations/products in 2023.
 
  

Tourist arrangements and events
Tourist experiences and events are very important for a destination because they help the destination in promoting to the public. The following activities were carried out in 2023:

• Krško Beer and BBQ Festival (local offering, seasonal ingredients, no single-use plastic)
• The Month of Posavje Tastes (learning about local gastronomy with focus on local ingredients, no single-use plastics)
• Tastes of Posavje street food (local offering, seasonal ingredients, no single-use plastics)
• Saint Martin’s Weekend in Posavje
• Opening of festive season (no single-use plastics)
• Events at Videm market and promotion of countryside economies (Carnival fair, Easter fair, Beekeeping fair, St. Martin’s autumn fair, St. Nicholas’ fair) 

 

Cooperation and tourism promotion at regional and national level
Urban municipality of Krško is promoted as an independent tourist destination and is additionally involved in and promoted as part of wider regional tourist destination of Čatež and Posavje, known as the land of castles, fine dining, and wine.
 
Sustainable mobility
The aim of Urban municipality of Krško in accordance with the Integrated transport strategy is to continue activities for sustainable traffic planning to increase the possibility of walking, cycling and use of public transportation:

• By constructing cycling routes and extending the network of “Krčan” free-of-charge bicycle-sharing stations to improve the safety and accessibility of important sites in the town. Currently, 88 bicycles are available at 11 bicycle-sharing stations.
• Completed construction of cycling connection between Krško and Kostanjevica na Krki in total length of 19.5 km.