SUSTAINABILITY — A NECESSITY FOR THE SURVIVAL OF TOURISM
Slovenia is famous for its rich flora and fauna ecosystem, unspoilt waters and vast forests, which provide shelter to many animal species. Green or eco tourism is the only type of tourism that can ensure that we will be able to enjoy the beautiful natural resources in the future. Sustainable development is therefore also of exceptional, crucial importance in tourism.
From the very beginning, the goal of Green Adventure is to operate in the long run, that the activities we offer guests are designed carefully and holistically, individual segments in the field of sustainable development are extremely important, which may not be directly related to basic activity — organization and implementation of tourist programs. At the same time, we are aware that they carry enormous weight in terms of the trust of our guests, our reputation and, above all, the actual fulfilment of our own commitments and the planned long-term operation.
Sustainable development should not be just a letter on paper
The phrase sustainable development, which has been appearing at practically every step lately, can also be a great marketing move. Both providers and users of products and services must therefore make sure that it is not just a letter on paper and attractive self-propaganda, but that it is in fact a constant part of our awareness and action. Let’s act and choose with all responsibility to our environment!
Of course, we cannot deny or prevent technological progress, but a balance between the conservation of animal and plant species and their natural environment and the responsible use of natural resources is of the utmost importance.
Probably, tourism is the industry in which various aspects of sustainable operation are best known, most obvious and noticeable, as it is mostly assessed by external observers — tourists from elsewhere. It is very different from an individual tourism provider in which areas and to what extent it will implement sustainability.
At Green Adventure, we take sustainability seriously
Unspoiled clear Slovenian rivers full of trout, huchen, grayling and endless forests, which are home to wild animals and many species of birds, are the basis of Green Adventure. Sustainable development has been an important part of adventures we offer from the very beginning. We run our programs in small groups, we follow the rules of our own code of ethics, we do not offer our guests products in disposable plastic packaging, we offer locally organically grown food, to name just a few activities. All this definitely places us among those tourism providers who have a clear vision of sustainable operation, which we are very proud of.
In 2022, the Green Adventure travel agency also started obtaining the Travelife international certificate of sustainable operation.
We are also part of the campaign under the auspices of the Slovenian Tourist Board «Commitment to eliminate disposable plastics from Slovenian tourism.» With such activities we want to educate ourselves personally, know how to find solutions and above all find ways to put the acquired knowledge into practice, to influence partners, suppliers, guides, and even our guests.
If so far the basic opinion of the majority when mentioning sustainability was only waste separation, water and electricity saving, the use of more environmentally friendly transport,… we realized that the concept of sustainability is much broader and extremely important for our common future.
Sustainable development and Green Adventure experiences
We could otherwise say that fishing activities and tourism in Slovenia is already at a high point in terms of sustainable development. Beside the general fishing rules of each fishing club providers and fishing guides, as well as our guests, strive to leave nature in the state we entered it — we fish with barbless hooks and in a «catch and release» way, as their members we work closely with fishing clubs to preserve fish species, passing on our knowledge to younger generations, .. Also on our kayak safari trips, we are careful not to disturb animals, do not pollute water and shores. With the slogan «we don’t speak, we rather listen to the sound of nature», we regularly address guests to certain rules of conduct before the start of rowing experiences on the «Dolenjska Amazon», the Temenica river.
We must be aware that if we over-deplete natural resources, fight uncontrollably only for ever higher profits, pollute the environment, there will be no tourism, as there will be no more beauties to offer. Of course, tourism is an industry that can have a significant impact on the economy of a particular destination or area, but only if we are aware of responsible action in a way that permanently contributes to the well-being of the local population.
Sustainability is never a complete process, it requires constant awareness that by our own example, activities, passing on the mindset to younger generations, we can help preserve the environment in the future. It is never too late to start educating, behaving and acting sustainably. It will be best to start today, this moment.