Simon Kerma
DOI: 10.35666/23038950.2025.52.131
UDC: 338.48-53:63”2021/2023”(497.4)
Abstract: Farm tourism in Slovenia – perspectives and development challenges
Farm tourism in Slovenia represents an important complement to the agricultural sector, enabling farmers to more easily market their own produce and products, provide partial or full employment for household members, and generate additional income. It also promotes more efficient use of available farm resources, contributes to the vitality of agricultural holdings and rural communities, helps preserve the cultural landscape and rural settlement, and adds value to agricultural products and services. All of this is crucial for the sustainable development of rural areas. Moreover, it fosters closer intersectoral cooperation and strengthens trust and relationships between farms and consumers. Farm tourism establishments also serve as custodians of Slovenia’s culinary heritage and culture. This paper presents the selected results of an extensive and rather complex study conducted from early 2021 to early 2023. Its purpose was to identify the main characteristics of tourist farms, analysing their offerings and determining their needs in relation to integration into broader tourism programmes and services. We conducted the survey among the holders of supplementary activities or their immediate family members; in many cases, several family members participated in the discussion, particularly when responding to open-ended questions and providing final comments. Direct, onsite surveying proved to be an invaluable source of information, enriched by personal interaction and on-location observation of the tourist farms. We also conducted a survey among visitors to tourist farms in Slovenia, which provided us with some important insights into expectations and motivations in relation to what tourist farms have to offer.
Keywords
Farm tourism, rural areas, sustainable development, Slovenia
GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW - SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL FOR GEOGRAPHY No 52, Year 2025. pg. 131-149