SReST project has officially started with a kick-off meeting in the municipality of Postojna, Slovenia

SReST project has officially started with the inaugural meeting hosted by the Lead Partner of the project, the Municipality of Postojna, Slovenia. The meeting marked the official commencement of this transformative initiative. It brought together partners from seven countries – Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro. It set the stage for a dynamic exchange of ideas and expertise in sustainable tourism development through preservation of agricultural biodiversity and promotion of "slow-food" travel.

The meeting provided a platform for invaluable knowledge exchange between partners. They shared examples of their good practices and presented the challenges they will be tackling within the SReST project. Some of the highlighted common hurdles included workforce shortages, waning interest in local farming, as well as limited knowledge and awareness about "slow-food" principles.

Besides the project partners, the meeting was attended by several public officials, which underlined the transformative potential of the SReST project. Dubrovka Kalin, General Director of the Tourism Directorate at the Ministry of Economy, Tourism, and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia delivered a keynote address underscoring the significance of authenticity in tourism offerings, and advocating for a departure from mass tourism in favor of culturally and gastronomically rich experiences. 

Mayor of the municipality of Postojna Igor Marentič welcomed the partners to Postojna and addressed the challenge of convincing transit tourists to prolong their visits in small rural towns. 

Representing the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, Anton Pavlin expressed optimism for the project's success and offered support for overcoming project’s implementation challenges. 

Natalia Liholot, from the Danube Programme Managing Authority, provided technical guidance and outlined project protocols.